Neurotransmitters

Question 1

What is the main excitatory neurotransmitter of the CNS?

Answer 1

Glutamate

Question 2

What is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the CNS?

Answer 2

Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Question 3

Which receptors does glutamate bind to?

Answer 3

Both ionotropic and metabotropic receptors

Question 4

What does prolonged activation of glutamate receptors lead to?

Answer 4

Hyperexcitability

- i.e. seizures, excitotoxicity, stroke

Question 5

What happens if you block glutamate receptors?

Answer 5

Sedation

Question 6

Which drugs can block glutamate receptors?

Answer 6

Ketamine

Alcohol

Question 7

What is monosodium glutamate?

Answer 7

Excitatory neurotransmitter for the tongue

Question 8

What are the types of GABA receptors?

Answer 8

GABAa

• ionotropic, conduct Cl-
• Fast inhibition
• effect potentiated by +ve allosteric modulators

GABAb

• metabotropic
• presynaptic inhibition of GABA release

Question 9

What occurs when GABA receptors are activated?

Answer 9

general principle => sedation

Question 10

Give examples of drugs which activate GABA receptors?

Answer 10

Benzodiazepines

Alcohol

Question 11

What occurs if GABA receptors are blocked?

Answer 11

Hyperexcitability => seizures

Question 12

What is date rape drug?

Answer 12

Combination of alcohol and benzodiazepines

Question 13

What are glia?

Answer 13

The connective tissue in the nervous system consisting of different types of cell related to neurones

Question 14

Give examples of some glial cells?

Answer 14

Astrocytes

Oligodendrocytes

Microglia

Ependymal cells

Question 15

What are astrocytes?

Answer 15

Support cells

• protoplasmic = neuronal support
• fibrous = damage repair

Question 16

What are oligodendrocytes?

Answer 16

Myelinating cells in CNS

Question 17

What are microglia?

Answer 17

Macrophages of the nervous system

Question 18

What are ependymal cells?

Answer 18

Epithelial cells linking ventricles and produce CSF

Question 19

Why is glia important?

Answer 19

For synthesis of GABA and Glutamate

Mopping up excess neurotransmitter

Question 20

What is Glycine?

Answer 20

Another major inhibitory neurotransmitter

- conduct Cl- just like GABA receptors

Question 21

Where in the CNS is glycine mostly active?

Answer 21

Brainstem and spinal cord

Question 22

Which drug blocks glycine?

Answer 22

Strychnine

Question 23

Where are serotonin containing neurones found mainly?

Answer 23

Midline raphe nuclei

Question 24

Which drugs activate serotonin targets?

Answer 24

LSD

Sumatriptan (migraine treatment)

Question 25

Which drugs block serotonin targets?

Answer 25

Ondansteron (anti-emetic)

Clozapine

Question 26

Which drugs inhibit serotonin transporters?

Answer 26

SSRIs

Question 27

Which receptor does sumatriptan activate?

Answer 27

5-HT 1b

Question 28

Which receptor does Ondansteron block?

Answer 28

5-HT 3

Question 29

Where is the majority of serotonin kept outside the CNS?

Answer 29

Enterchromaffin cells

Question 30

Where is ACh made?

Answer 30

Basal forebrain

Brainstem tegmentum

Question 31

Where is dopamine synthesised?

Answer 31

By neurones of ventral midbrain

• substantia nigra: movement control
• ventral tegmental area: reward, novelty, motivation

Question 32

Which drugs target dopamine?

Answer 32

All drugs of abuse => increase dopamine abdundance

Parkinson treatment Ropinirole => increase abundance

Antipsychotic: block dopamine receptors

• Haloperidol
• Quetiapine