Neurotransmitters

Question 1

Excitatory neurotransmitters (ESPS)

Answer 1

Glutamate, aspartate, ACh. Lowers post synaptic membrane potential to increase firing rate. Depolarizes the cell.

Question 2

Inhibitory neurotransmitter (ISPS)

Answer 2

GABA, glycine. Stabilizes or raises postsynaptic potential to decrease firing rate.

Question 3

Ionotrophic receptor

Answer 3

Activation causes ions to travel through. Very fast acting. Made up of usually 4 different subunits. Can change the activity and specificity of the receptor by changing part of its protein makeup.

Question 4

Metabotrophic receptor

Answer 4

Activation causes a G-protein coupled response and second messenger system to be activated. Can be ligand, mechanical or voltage. Slower than ioinotrophic receptors.

Seven membrane spanning regions..

Question 5

Agonist

Answer 5

Mimics the neurotransmitter. Can have full or partial.

Question 6

Antagonist

Answer 6

Blocks neuro transmitter by binding to receptor

Question 7

Neuromodulator

Answer 7

Has an enabling or disabling effect on the response to the NT by binding allosterically to the receptor. Reduces the number of receptors available.

Question 8

Neurotransmitter types

Answer 8

1. Acetylcholine
2. Biogenic amines
   - Catecholamines: Dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine
   - Serotonin
   - Histamine
3. Amino acids
   - GABA
   - Glycine
   - Glutamine
4. Neuroactive peptides

Question 9

Acetylcholine acts at which 2 receptors.

Answer 9

Acts at muscarinic (G protein coupled) or nicotinic (ion channel) receptors. Found in the PNS and CNS

Question 10

Cholinergenic neurons

Answer 10

Neurons that use ACh as the primary neurotransmitter

Question 11

Where are nicotinic receptors found

Answer 11

At the neuromuscular junctions of skeletal muscles.

Question 12

Where is ACh produced?

Answer 12

IN the presynaptic axon by the enzyme choline acetyl transferase (CAT).

Question 13

How is ACh degraded?

Answer 13

Occurs in the synaptic cleft and is done by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Breaks down the acetylcholine into acetate and choline.

Question 14

How to block action of a NT

Answer 14

Block receptor, block enzyme that degrades or re uptakes the neurotransmitter

Question 15

Neuromodulator

Answer 15

Has an enabling or disabling effect on the response to the NT by binding allosterically to the receptor. This reduces the number of receptors available.

Question 16

Alzheimer’s disease

Answer 16

Neurons associated with the ACh system degenerate. Degreneration of cholinergic neurons. 10-15% over age 65 and 50% of people over 85 years old.

Question 17

Biogenic amines

Answer 17

Neurotransmitters that are made from amino acids.

Question 18

Catecholamines are made from which amino acids?

Answer 18

Tyrosine (3), tryptophan (1) and histidine (1)

Question 19

Three catecholamines made from tyrosine

Answer 19

Dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine

Question 20

one catecholamine made from tryptophan

Answer 20

Serotonin

Question 21

One catecholamine made from histidine

Answer 21

Histamine

Question 22

Enzymes that degrade the biogenic amine neurotransmitter are:

Answer 22

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) 
Catechol-o-methyltransferase

Question 23

Synthesis of catecholamines derived from tyrosine

Answer 23

Tyrosine –> L- Dopa —> Dopamine —> Norepinephrine —> epinephrine

Question 24

To create dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, you absolutely need

Answer 24

Tyrosine and enzymes needed to convert each molecule

Question 25

Parkinsons disease

Answer 25

Involves the loss of dopamine releasing neurons. Symptoms include persistent tremors, head nodding and a forward bent walking posture. Slow in initiating and executing movement.

Question 26

Adrenergic receptors

Answer 26

Utilized by the neurotransmitters norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (Epi).
Adrenergic receptors are G protein coupled and are generally linked to a second messenger signal transduction pathway.
2 alpha receptors
3 beta receptors

Question 27

How is parkinsons disease treated?

Answer 27

With the drug L-Dopa in the initial stages. Not curative.

Question 28

What is serotonin also known as?

Answer 28

5-Hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT

Question 29

Main CNS location of serotonin

Answer 29

The brainstem

Question 30

Functions of serotonin

Answer 30

Regulating sleep, emotions, vomiting reflex, regulates cell growth, vascular smooth muscle contraction.