Neurotransmitters Flashcards
define biogenic amines
biogenic substance with one or more amine groups; a basic nitrogenous compound formed by decarboxylation of an amino acid or by amination or transamination of an aldehyde or ketone
examples of biogenic amines
serotonin acetylcholine norepinephrine
Who did the experiments with frogs to discover neurotransmitters (NTs)?
Otto Loewi
what makes a neurotransmitter excitatory or inhibitory
Receptor through which NT acts (NOT transmitter itself)
what NTs are considered small molecules
biogenic amines amino acids
where are biogenic amines synthesized
nerve terminal
what are the biogenic amines
acetylcholine dopamine serotonin histamine norepinephrine epinephrine
which of the biogenic amines are also catecholamines
epinephrine norepinephrine dopamine
what are the amino acids
GABA glutamate aspartate glycine
what NTs are considered large molecules
peptides
what are the peptides
opioid family: enkephalin endorphin dynorphin
where are peptides synthesized
made in cell body from precursor peptides and then shipped to terminals
what are peptides often co-released with
a classical transmitter
other examples of NTs AKA co-factors AKA second messengers
NO CO adenosine eicosanoids taurine tryptamine prostaglandins neuroactive steroids
what NTs are typically excitatory in the brain
glutamate aspartate small percentage ACh
what is the direction of projections for glutamate
descending
role of glutamate in CNS function
majority of fast synaptic transmission
which disease results from too much glutamatergic transmission
Epilepsy
which disease results from neurotoxicity via subtype of glutamate receptor
Huntington’s
which diseases are due to problems with glutamate
epilepsy huntington’s
what NTs are typically inhibitory in the brain
GABA (often but not always) dopamine
what is the direction of projections for GABA
diffuse
what diseases result from too low activity of GABA
Epilepsy Huntington’s Anxiety
what direction of projections for dopamine
ascending
disease where not enough dopamine
Parkinsons
disease where too much dopamine
Schizophrenia
anatomy for Parkinsons
cell bodies in substantial nigra project to striatum and these die/degenerate in parkinsons
what is used as treatment of Parkinsons
L-dopa
anatomy for Schizophrenia
cell bodies in ventral tegmental area project to nucleus accumbens and these are hyperactive in schizophrenia
path to pre-frontal cortex is underreactive
what is the nucleus accumbent important for besides Schizophrenia
addiction
what diseases where dopamine affected
Parkinson’s Schizophrenia Addiction
where are the cell bodies that release acetylcholine
septal nuclei and nucleus basalis
projections for acetylcholine
ascending to cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus
what NT was the first identified NT
acetylcholine
disease where affected by acetylcholine
Alzheimers cholinergic neurons degenerated avoid anticholinergic drugs in elderly cuz their use causes confusion and mental slowness
disease where affected by acetylcholine and dopamine
Parkinson’s as dopaminergic neurons die, cholinergic tone predominates on outflow from striatum
balance of acetylcholine and dopamine in Parkinson’s
see picture
what is used to treat Parkinson’s
anticholinergic drugs along with dopamine replacing or mimicking drugs
what is norepinephrine typically in CNS (inhibitory or excitatory)
inhibitory
where are cell bodies located for norepinephrine
locus coeruleus
what direction are projections for norepinephrine
ascending
terminal field for NE projections
neocortex
cerebellum
hippocampus
role of NE in CNS function
attentiveness mood (dec levels of NE in depression) hyperactivity in withdrawal from addictive drugs
origin of serotonin projections
raphe nucleus
direction of projection with serotonin
ascending
terminal field of projections with serotonin
cortex hippocampus cerebellum and many more
role of serotonin in CNS function
depression
migraine
anxiety
sleep
origin of histamine projections
tuberomamillary nucleus of hypothalamus
direction of projections of histamine
diffuse ascending projections
role in CNS of histamine
wakefulness
antihistamines that penetrate BBB make you sleepy
newer antihistamines don’t penetrate BBB so don’t make you sleepy
