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neurotransmitters (week 11) Flashcards

1
Q

what are the 4 criteria which a neurotransmitter must satisfy to be defined as a neurotransmitter?

A
  1. Synthesis of the NT must be in the pre-synaptic neurone
  2. stored presynaptically
  3. the NT must be released on demand
  4. the NT must be inactivated
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2
Q

what are the three ways a neurotransmitter can be inactivated?

A

diffusion, enzymes inactivation, re-uptake

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3
Q

what are co-agonists and constitutively active receptors?

A

types of receptors which are activated by more than one type of neurotransmitter

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4
Q

what are the three types of amino acid neurotransmitter?

A

glutamate, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and glycine

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5
Q

what is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system?

A

glutamate (amino acid neurotransmitter)

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6
Q

How does glutamate (the neurotransmitter) primarily excite neurons?

A

by opening cation channels (e.g. sodium channels) (NMDA receptors also sometimes permeable to calcium ions)

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7
Q

how is the neurotransmitter glutamate inactivated?

A

by re-uptake, it is recycled to either glutamate or GABA

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8
Q

which neurotransmitter is widespread in the brain and connects hemispheres of the brain?

A

glutamate

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9
Q

which neurotransmitter is involved in synaptic plasticity?

A

glutamate (kainate glutamate receptors)

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10
Q

which type of glutamate receptor is involved in slow transmission and can be over stimulated causing a large influx of calcium ions?

A

NMDA glutamate receptors

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11
Q

what is excitotoxicity?

A

process of cell death resulting from overstimulation and excitation of glutamate NMDA receptors

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12
Q

what is thought to be the primary cause of migraines?

A

a massive transient depolarisation through the visual cortex and a massive glutamate efflux

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13
Q

what happens in the brain in epilepsy?

A

there is excess excitation which can cause uncontrolled waves of excitation over expanding areas in the brain

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14
Q

what are partial complex seizures?

A

an excess excitation in an isolated area of the brain and result in an alteration of consciousness

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15
Q

what are grand mal seizures?

A

seizures which involve the whole brain

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16
Q

which drug is used to treat epileptic seizures which acts to increase the action of GABA?

A

benzodiazepines

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17
Q

which drug is used to treat seizures which acts by increasing the refractory period in voltage gated sodium channels?

A

phenytoin

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18
Q

what is the general mechanism of the drug benzodiazepines?

A

they act on a separate receptor binding site to the GABA receptor and act by increasing the ability of GABA to open chloride channels

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19
Q

what neurotransmitter is the principle inhibitory neurotransmitter of the CNS?

A

GABA (which is made from glutamate)

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20
Q

where is GABA found?

A

predominantly in the CNS but also in the striatum and globes pallid us where it refines motor information

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21
Q

how does GABA act?

A

at ligand gated chloride channels

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22
Q

how is GABA inactivated?

A

by presynaptic reuptake

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23
Q

what happens in huntington’s disease?

A

GABAergic neurons degenerate, leading to uncontrolled movement(can be treated with GABA mimetic)

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24
Q

what changes can alcoholism result in (involving GABA)?

A

alcoholism can cause a change in the transmission of GABA resulting in withdrawal results causing convulsive movements and seizure. (treated with benzodiazapines (diazepam, temazepam) and phenytoin)

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25
what is a treatment sometimes used for anxiety and sleeplessness (as well as epilepsy and as anaesthetics)?
GABA agonists
26
what is the second most common inhibitory neurotransmitter of the CNS and is synthesised from serine?
glycine
27
where is glycine mainly found as a neurotransmitter?
in the interneurones of the spinal cord and brainstem but is also present in the brain
28
what is thought to be the primary cause of inherited mammalian Myoclonus? (muscle twitching)
glycinergic dysfunction
29
what is tetanus caused by?
a toxin from the bacteria clostridium tetani
30
what does the toxin released from clostridium tetani in tetanus do?
inhibits the release of glycine which disrupts the excitation/inhibition balance (this can lead to loss of inhibition in the cerebra leading to epileptiform fits)
31
what is the treatment for tetanus?
injection of antitoxin which binds the toxin and benzodiazepines which boost the GABAergic pathways
32
what are the two main groups the biogenic amine neurotransmitters are composed of?
catecholamines and indolamines
33
what are the neurotransmitters defined as catecholamines?
noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine
34
which catecholamine NT is a sympathetic NT, the inhibition of which is used in the treatment of parkinson's ADHD?
noradrenaline (agonists are cocaine and tricyclic antidepressants)
35
which catecholamine NT is a peripheral hormone from adrenal medulla and is a pharmacological target for cardiac and circulatory problems?
adrenaline
36
which catecholamine NT is a NT and neuromodulator involved with pleasure, addiction and movement?
dopamine
37
where are catecholamine NTs synthesised?
in the bouton
38
how are catecholamine NTs inactivated?
principally by re-uptake
39
which catecholamine NTs are involved in the 'fight or flight' response (in the gut, heart, respiration etc)
adrenaline and noradrenaline
40
what is the structure f adrenoceptors like?
G-protein linked metabotropic receptors
41
what behaviours are controlled by noradrenaline in the brainstem?
sleep, wakefulness, attention and feeding behaviour
42
which disorder is noradrenaline involved in?
bipolar disorder
43
what is the locus coeruleus?
the area of the brainstem whose neurons project noradrenalin axons
44
what type of receptors receive dopamine?
G-protein linked metabotropic receptors (dopaminergic axons project to majority of the CNS, excluding the cerebellum)
45
what are the three primary actions dopamine is involved in?
control of movement, certain symptoms of psychiatric disease and regulation of the release of certain hormones
46
where does dopamine exert control of hormone release?
in the anterior pituitary
47
how is dopamine involved in parkinsons disease?
parkinson sufferers who experience tremor, muscle rigidity and bradykinesia (slowness of movement) have depleted dopamine in the motor co-ordination circuits (treatment is with antipsychotics)
48
what types of addiction is dopamine involved in which works through the pleasure centres of the CNS located in the mesolimbic dopamine system?
abusive drugs, exercise and certain behaviours including sex
49
what is the primary type of indoleamine? (type of biogenic amine NT)
serotonin
50
where do serotonin neurons originate and project to?
originate in the Raphe nuclei in the brain stem and project to the majority of the brain and brain stem
51
where are the large family of serotonin excitatory and inhibitory receptors found?
in the CNS and PNS
52
what are some examples of neurotransmitters serotonin modulates?
glutamate GABA and dopamine
53
what is serotonin dysfunction (reduction) associated with?
depression and OCD (both can be treated with fluoxetine)
54
what are some serotonin receptor agonists exploited by drug abusers?
LSD, psilocybin and mescaline
55
where are peptide NTs made?
in the neurone cell body and transported to the bouton
56
what are two examples of peptide NTs involved in the perception of pain?
Encephalins and dynorphin
57
what is substance P involved in?
the transmission of pain
58
which condition are neuropeptide Y, neurotension and cholecystokinin involved in?
schizophrenia
59
which receptors do endorphins and encephalins act as the endogenous ligand?
they act at opiate receptors in the brain and spinal cord
60
what does taking opiates (e.g. heroin) lead to?
down regulation of opiate receptors throughout the CNS, which causes opioid tolerance and increased intake
61
what sort of effects do opiates have?
emotional effects as well as pain
62
which drug can be given to heroin addicts to reduce symptoms?
naloxone
63
what NT is the principle peripheral excitatory neurotransmitter?
Acetylcholine (found mainly in PNS but also in CNS)
64
where do acetylcholine neurons project to?
the hippocampus and cortex
65
what are the hippocampus and the cortex important in?
the formation of new memories and learning
66
which disease is associated with reduction in Acetylcholine?
Alzheimer's disease
67
what do anticholinesterases do?
prevent the breakdown of ACh (include insecticides DDT; nerve gases and alzheimer's treatments)
68
what do the drugs nicotine, muscarine, atropine, tropicamide do?
act on ACh receptors
69
The diet of an alcoholic is often poor and can result in thiamine deficiency which causes damage to which structures?
the thalamus and mammillary bodies
70
what are the maxillary bodies involved in?
memory formation
71
what are some symptoms of damage to the thalamus and maxillary bodies?
amnesia, confabulation, lack of insight and apathy

Nervous tissue (7 decks)

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