Neurotransmitters

Question 1

What are the 2 types of NT receptors?

Answer 1

1. Ionotropic → ligand-gated ion channels
2. Metabotropic → G-coupled receptors

Question 2

Name some of the more prominent neutrotransmitters

Answer 2

1. Glutamate
2. GABA
3. Glycine
4. Acetylcholine
5. Serotonin
6. Dopamine
7. Norepinephrine

Question 3

T/F: Glutamate is the most abundate NT in our brain and CNS?

Answer 3

TRUE

Question 4

what type of NT is glutamate?

Answer 4

Excitatory post-synaptic response

Question 5

what functions are associated with glutamate?

Answer 5

learning and memory

synaptic plasticity

Question 6

what types of receptors bind glutamate?

Answer 6

1. Ionotropic:
   
   1. NMDA
   2. AMPA
   3. Kainate
2. Metabotropic
   
   1. 3 groups and 8 subgroups
   2. modulate glutamate release
   3. affect postsynaptic excitability

Question 7

T/F: Kinate receptors have both resynaptic and postsynaptic actions?

Answer 7

TRUE

presynaptic: GABA
postsynaptic: Glutamate

Question 8

Name some agonists/antagonists to glutamate

Answer 8

Antagonists:

phencyclidine

Riluzole

Question 9

What are some clinical pathologies assocaited with glutamate?

Answer 9

1. glutamate excitotoxicity
2. schizophrenia
3. epilepsy
4. Alzheimer’s disease

Question 10

what is glutamater excitotoxicity?

Answer 10

increased glutamate → excess intracellular Ca2+ → apoptosis

Question 11

What is the major inhibitory NT in the CNS?

Answer 11

GABA

particularly at interneurons wihtin the spinal cord

Question 12

what is the function of the GABA NT?

Answer 12

1. used in trx of anxiety, reha for drug abuse
2. inhibits motor, sensory, and cognitive neurons
3. sedation, muscular/cardiorespiratory relaxation, pain inhibition

Question 13

What are the receptors for GABA?

Answer 13

Ionotropic: GABA_A

Metabotropic: GABA_B

Question 14

Name some agonists/antagonists to GABA

Answer 14

Agonists:

Alcohol

Benzodiazepines

Barbiturates

Baclofen

Question 15

what are some clinical pathologies that GABA is used in?

Answer 15

Epilepsy trx

Huntington’s disease

Question 16

where is glycine found and what does it do?

Answer 16

brainstem and spinal cord

inhibitory post-synaptic response

functions → inhibits spinal interneurons

Question 17

What are some receptors for Glycine?

Answer 17

Ionotropic: Cl- channel (inhibitory)

Question 18

Name some agonists/antagonists to Glycine

Answer 18

antagonist

Strychnine

Question 19

What are some clinical pathologies that glycine is used in?

Answer 19

spasticity

spinal shock

Question 20

where is ACh found?

Answer 20

widely distributed

in motor neurons, basal ganglia and ANS

found in NMJ

Question 21

what type of NT is ACh?

Answer 21

Excitatory post-synaptic response

Question 22

what is the function of ACh?

Answer 22

1. triggers muscle contraction
2. ANS involvement
3. stimulates excretion of certain hormones
4. in CNS, involved in wakefulness, attentiveness, anger, sexuality, amongst other things

Question 23

T/F: ACh is a major converyer of info in the PNS?

Answer 23

TRUE

Question 24

what are some receptors for ACh?

Answer 24

Ionotropic: nicotinic (excitatory)

Metabotropic: muscarinic (excitatory or inhibitory)

Question 25

Name some agonists/antagonists to ACh

Answer 25

Agonist: Nicotine Antagonist: Botulinum toxin, Atropine

Question 26

What are some clinical pathologies that ACh is used in the treatment

Answer 26

Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia Myasthenia Gravis Tobacco addiction

Question 27

where is serotonin found?

Answer 27

brain and brainstem (pineal gland, raphe nuclei in pons, limbic system) and GI tract

Question 28

T/F: serotonin is both excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptically?

Answer 28

TRUE

Question 29

what are some functions of serotonin?

Answer 29

1. emotions 2. sleep-wake cycles and other autonomic functions 3. GI tract regulation, appetite 4. cardiovascular growth factor

Question 30

what are some receptors for serotonin?

Answer 30

Ionotropic: 5-HT₃ (excitatory) Metabotropic: 5-HT_1-7 (excitatory or inhibitory)

Question 31

Name some agonists/antagonists to serotonin

Answer 31

Agonists: SSRIs

Question 32

What are some clinical pathologies that serotonin is used in the treatment?

Answer 32

Depression OCD Autism Serotonin Syndrome

Question 33

Where is dopamine found?

Answer 33

CNS: substantia nigra, midbrain, hypothalamus ANS: aympathetic neurons

Question 34

T/F: dopamine has both excitatory and inhibitory post-synpatic responses

Answer 34

TRUE

Question 35

what are some functions of dopamine?

Answer 35

1. movement 2. reward 3. memory, attention, motivation 4. and a lot more!

Question 36

what class of NT is dopamine?

Answer 36

Amine these function as neuromodulators

Question 37

what are some receptors for dopamine?

Answer 37

ionotropic: none Metabotropic: excitatory and inhibitory

Question 38

Name some agonists/antagonists to dopamine

Answer 38

agonists: amphetamines L-dopa

Question 39

what are some clinical pathologies that dopamine is used in the treatment?

Answer 39

Parkinson's Disease Schizophrenia ADHD Substance dependency

Question 40

where is NE found?

Answer 40

cortex: locus ceruleus (pons) and medulla ANS: sympathetic neurons

Question 41

what type of NT is NE?

Answer 41

excitatory post synaptic response \*there are some inhibitory responses linked to NE

Question 42

what is the function of NE?

Answer 42

1. plays a vital role in active surveillance by increasing attention to sensory info 2. SNS: essential for "fight or flight" reaction to stress

Question 43

What are some receptors for NE?

Answer 43

Ionotropic: none Metabotropic: alpha 1 and 2, and beta

Question 44

Name some agonists/antagonists to NE

Answer 44

Antagonist: Beta blocker Agonist: Amphetamines, Cocaine, TCA

Question 45

what are some clinical pathologies that NE is used to treat?

Answer 45

ADHD Hypotension PTSD Parkinson's Disease