neurotransmitters Flashcards
What are noradrenaline and serotonin and what are they derived from?
They are monoamine and are derived from dietary amino acids like tyrosine and tryptophan
What re the 3 distinct properties of noradrenaline and serotonin?
Axons arise from cell bodies in distinct subcortical nuclei from a few hundred cells.
- axons branch out extensively to innervate most parts of the cortex and other brain regions
- They produce a combination of inhibitory and excitatory effects which are generally NEUROMODULATORY.
How is noradrenaline synthesised?
Tyrosine is metabolised by tyrosine hydroxylase to dopa and dopa to dopamine by dopa decarboxylase. Dopamine to noradrenaline via dopamine beta hydroxylase.
Where is dopamine beta hydroxylase found?
only in noradrenaline neurons not dopamine neurons.
Where is noradrenaline stored?
70% of it is stored in vesicles while the rest is in the cytoplasm.
What is noradrenaline release dependent on?
Calcium
What are the two processes that inactivate noradrenaline?
reuptake and metabolism
What is the pathway to metabolise noradrenaline?
noradrenaline is metabolised by COMT and MAO
MAO is found in mt neurons and glia
COMT found in extracellulary
Where does nore go and how?
Nore is found in locus ceruleus in the brainstem that is on both sides. The axon from locus ceruleus go to the hypothalamus, thalamus, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, cerebellum via the dorsal noradrenergic bundle.
Brainstem nuclei is the descending pathways to the spinal cord.
What are the functions of nore?
chane potassium conductance couple with facilitation of responses to other neurotransmitters attention and learning blood pressure regulation thermoreglation pain control in spinal cord
What are the receptors of nore?
a1A - increase in calcium
a1B - increase IP3/DAG
a2A and a2B - decrease in cAMP
B1.2.3 - increase in cyclic AMP
How is serotonin synthesised?
L-tryptophan metabolised by tryptophan hydroxylase to 5-hydroxytryptophan then 5 hydroxytryptamine via L-aromatic acid decarboxylase.
Where is serotonin stored?
vesicles
How is serotonin released?
fusion of vesicles to cell membrane and it is calcium dependent
What are the two methods that sero is inactivated?
reuptake and metabolism
What is the pathway to metabolise sero?
5-HT via MAO to 5-HIAA
How is sero taken bck into neurons?
high - affinity active transport that prozac can target
Where is sero localised?
cell bodies containing 5-HT are clustered in the midline region of the brainstem in an area called the raphe nuclei. From the nuclei projections go to the basal ganglia, hipposcampus, cortex and cerebellum.
Descending projections to the spinal cord.
What are the functions of serotonin?
sleep, mood control (antidepressants), appetite, anxiety, analgesia (pain killer). VERY important to depression and anxiety
What are the receptors of serotonin?
5-HT 1A/ 1B / 1D = decreases cAMP
5-HT 2 / 1C - increases IP3/DAG post synaptic only for 2
5-HT 3 - modulates neurotransmitter release (modulates dopamine systems)
What is the metabolism pathway of dopamine?
Tyrosine to dopa via tyrosine hydroxylase and dopa to dapamine to dopa decarboxylase.
Where is dopamine stored?
75% are stored in vesicles from MAO.
How is dopamine released?
Calcium dependent
fusion with membrane.
it can be released from axon and dendrites in SNPc
What is the metabolic pathway that inactivates dopamine?
dopamine to DOPAC via MAOb and DOPAC to Homovanillic acid via COMT.
dopamine to 3 methoxytryramine via COMT and that to homovanillic acid via MAOb.
Where is the largest concentration of dopamine?
Basal ganglia and limbic system
What does dopamine affect?
mood, movement and emotions.
What are the 3 main dopaminergic pathways?
Nigro-striatal
Mesolimbic or Mesococtical system pathway
Hypothalamic pathway