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PSYC 355 > Neurotransmitters > Flashcards

Neurotransmitters Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 conditions to be a neurotransmitter?

A
  1. The substance must be synthesized in the presynaptic neuron.
  2. The substance must be present in presynaptic terminals and have an effect on its postsynaptic target.
  3. When experimentally applied, the substance must mimic the effects of the substance that is naturally released by the neuron.
  4. A mechanism must exist for the substance to be cleared from the synaptic cleft.
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2
Q

What are the 3 categories of neurotransmitters?

A
  1. Small-molecule
  2. Large molecule
  3. Lipid
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3
Q

What are the amines?

A

Sub-category of small-molecule neurotransmitters, contain

  1. Acetylcholine
  2. Biogenic amines
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4
Q

What are amino-acid neurotransmitters?

A

Sub-category of small-molecule neurotransmitters, contain

  1. Glutamate
  2. Glycine
  3. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
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5
Q

What are large-molecule neurotransmitters?

A

Neuroactive peptides (opioid peptides)

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6
Q

What are the lipid neurotransmitters?

A

Endocannabinoids

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7
Q

What are the 2 types of endocannabinoids?

A

Anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol

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8
Q

What are the cannabinoids receptors?

A

CB1 and CB2

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9
Q

What are the 2 receptors of acetylcholine?

A

Nicotinic and Muscarinic

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10
Q

What are the 2 main pathways of dopamine?

A

Nigrostriatal pathway

Mesocorticolimbic pathway

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11
Q

What are the receptors of norepinephrine?

A

Adrenergic receptors:
Alpha 1
Alpha 2
Beta

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12
Q

What are the 3 receptors of glutamate?

A

AMPA receptor
NMDA receptor
Kainate receptor

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13
Q

Why is neocortex called like that?

A

Bc its the latest part of the cortex to develop

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14
Q

Which type of neurotransmitters are most abundant in the brain?

A

Amino-acid neurotransmitters

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15
Q

Which is the most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS?

A

GABA

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16
Q

What is the antagonist of glycine? What does it do?

A

Strychnine

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17
Q

What are biogenic amines?

A
  1. Serotonin

2. Catecholamines

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18
Q

What are the catecholamines?

A
  1. Dopamine
  2. Norepinephrine (noreadrenaline)
  3. Epinephrine (adrenaline)
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19
Q

How is acetylcholine also called?

A

Cholinergic neurotransmitter

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20
Q

What are the 2 pathways of acetylcholine?

A

Medial-septal

Pontomesencephalo-tegmental

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21
Q

What are the 3 kinds of opioid peptides?

A

B-Endorphin
Enkephalin
Dynorphin

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22
Q

What are the 3 opiod receptors?

A

Mu
Delta
Kappa

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23
Q

Small molecule neurotransmitters are contained in what?

A

Synaptic vesicles

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24
Q

Large-molecule neurotransmitters are contained in what?

A

Secretory granules

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25
What are the 2 main types of neurotransmitters, and what do they do?
Excitatory: triggers action potentials Inhibitory: decreases the likelihood of action potentials
26
What structures does the medial-septal pathway of acetylcholine uses?
The medial septal nuclei (to cortex and hippocampus) and the basal nucleus of meynert This pathway goes to cortex and hippocampus
27
What structures does the pontomesencephalo-tegmental pathway of acetylcholine uses?
The pontomesencephalo-tegmental complex | This pathway goes to the thalamus
28
Where are nicotinic receptors located?
at the neuromuscular junction; causes your muscles to contract
29
Where are the muscarinic receptors located?
at the heart; causing it to slow down
30
Name the antagonist of nicotinic receptors?
Curare
31
Name the antagonist of muscarinic receptors
Atropine
32
Where does the nigrostriatal pathway of dopamine originates from? Where is it going? What does it do?
Originates form substantia nigra Goes to striatum Goal: regulating voluntary movement and learning motor skills
33
What are the subdivisions of the mesocorticolimbic pathway of dopamine?
Mesocortical pathway | Mesolimbic pathway
34
What is the destination of the mesocortical pathway of dopamine and what is its effect?
Direction: from ventral-tegmental area to prefrontal cortex Goal: Executive functions and selection of appropriate actions
35
What is the direction and the goal of the mesolimbic pathway of dopamine?
direction: from VTA to nucleus accumbens, amygdala, hippocampus Goal: control of emotional states and motivation
36
What are the 5 dopamine receptors and their subclasses?
D1 to D5 Class 1: D1-like (includes D1 and D5) Class 2: D2-like (includes D2-D4)
37
Where is norepinephrine produced?
In the locus coeruleus (in the brain stem)
38
Name 2 important functions of norepinephrine
Role in wakefulness | Activates sympathetic nervous system
39
How are called norepinephrine receptors?
Adrenergic receptors (or noradrenergic)
40
What are the categories of adrenergic receptors?
Alpha1, Alpha 2, beta
41
What are the 2 most common receptors in the brain?
alpha 1 and alpha 2
42
Where are setotonergic neurons (serotonin)
In the raphe nuclei
43
Where are the neurons of the serotonergic caudal group?
In the cerebellum and spinal cord
44
Where are the neurons of the serotonergic rostral group?
In the basal ganglia, thalamus, neocortex, hypothalamus and temporal lobe
45
What are the main functions of serotonin?
Regulation of mood, sleep and apetite | Also plays a role in the brain's reward system
46
What can serotonergic dysfunctions lead to?
depression, skizophrenia, and anxiety-related diseases (like OCD)
47
What are the 2 receptors for serotonin?
5-HT1 to 5-HT7
48
What is glutamate synthesized from?
From the amino acid glutamine
49
What is GABA synthesized from?
Glutamate
50
What is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain?
Glutamate
51
What is one main role of glutamate
Formation of long term memories
52
Which neurotransmitter has a mesocorticolimbic pathway that parallels that of dopamine
glutamate and GABA
53
What is the main role of GABA? How does it do that?
To silence the activity of neurons, and play a role in the regulation of fear and anxiety To do that, it allows the entry of cl- to HYPERPOLARIZE the neurons, making them less likely to fire
54
What is allosteric modulation?
When different chemicals can regulate the activity of a channel by each having their own receptor site on that same channel
55
What is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brainstem and spinal cord?
Glycine
56
What is the main role of glycine?
Paralyzing the body during REM sleep
57
Name a few of the functions of opioid peptides
Pain analgesia, reward mediation, modulation of emotions and response to stress
58
Which opioid peptide does mu binds with?
B-endorphin (drug-rewarding effects)
59
Which opioid peptide does delta binds with?
Enkephalin (drug rewarding effects)
60
Which opioid peptide does kappa binds with?
Dynorphin (regulates mood/stress)
61
Name the major functions of endocannabinoids
Learning and memory, appetite, sleep, regulation of emotional states Also modulates the content of dreams
62
Dysfunction in endocannabinoids can do what?
Cause disorders such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia
63
What is retrograde signaling?
The proces by which the activity of a neuron is regulated by chemical messenger released by its postsynaptic target neuron

PSYC 355 (22 decks)

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