Neurotransmitters Flashcards
What is a monoamine?
A class of NTs made by modifying a single amino acid
What are examples of monoamines?
Epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, histamine
Where do you find norepinephrine?
Locus ceruleus
What is norepinephrine associated with?
Wakefulness/alertness
Where do you find epinephrine?
Medulla
How are norepinephrine and epinephrine derived?
Tyrosine -> dopamine -> norepinephrine -> epinephrine
How are norepinephrine and epinephrine made?
- Tyrosine to dopamine via tyrosine hydroxylase
- Moved to vesicles where NE is created
- NE leaves vesicles and is converted to epi
- Epi moved into vesicles
What transporter moves epi and NE into vesicles?
VMAT 1 & 2
How are the actions of epi/NE limited?
Reuptake or enzymatic degradation via MAO or COMT
Where do you find dopamine?
Basal ganglia and hypothalamus/limbic system
What is dopamine involved in?
Motor control and endocrine/emotional control
How is dopamine made?
From tyrosine via tyrosine hydroxylase
How are dopamine’s actions limited?
Reuptake or catabolism by MAO and COMT
What does dopamine bind to?
Metabotropic receptors connected to G proteins.
D1 and D5 increase cAMP (in brain = neuron excitation)
D2, D3, and D4 decrease cAMP (=inhibits cell)
Where do you find serotonin?
Brainstem raphe nuclei
What is serotonin involved in?
Mood (hypothalamus/limbic system) and motor activity modification (cerebellum)
How is serotonin made?
Derived from tryptophan via tryptophan hydroxylase
How are serotonin’s actions limited?
Reuptake or catabolism by MAO and COMT
What does serotonin bind to?
5HT3 - area postrema (chemotactic trigger zone = vomiting)
5HT6 - anti-depressant effect
Where do you find histamine?
Tuberomammillary nucleus of hypothalamus