neurotransmitters and neuropharmacology Flashcards
What are the two types of synapses?
Indirect and direct
What happens during a direct synapse?
ionotropic receptors open when bound by a transmitter- like a phone call
WHich synapse is simple/complicated?
Simple- direct complicated-indirect
Does the brain usually choose the simple or complicated way?
complicated
What happens during an indirect synapse?
Metabotropic receptors recognize the transmitter but instead activate G protein- like passing a note in class
75% of drugs act via which receptor type?
Metabotropic receptors
WHat is an agonist?
Initiates normal effects of the receptor- Acts like the og cell- knock off
What is an antagonist?
Prevents receptor from being activated by other ligands- opposite of drug-blocks other people from parking- COMPETITIVE
What are the four amino acids?
Glutamate, Aspartate, Glycine, GABA
What are the ionotropic receptors in Glutamate?
AMPA, NMDA, Kainate
What are the ionotropic glutamate receptors?
Fast and direct
What does glutamate also act on to do what?
Acts on m GluRs to slow metabolic receptors
What is excitotoxicity
neuronal injury such as a stroke or head trauma causes excess release of glutamate, which kills neurons—cell keeps firing and eventually causes cell to commit suicide
WHat is the most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain?
GABA