Nuerotransmitter - CNS

Question 1

What are the important nuerotransmitters ?

Answer 1

Question 2

How many Nuerons within the brain

Answer 2

85 billion

Question 3

What are the TWO main nuerotrasnmitters wthinin the brain

Answer 3

Glutamate (90%)
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (10%)

Question 4

What are the key receptors for Glutamate ?

Answer 4

Receptors:

Ionotropic (cation channel):
AMPA receptors
NMDA receptors
Kainate

Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain

Question 5

How is GABA made ?

Answer 5

Synthesised from glutamate

Question 6

What are the receptors for GABA ?

Answer 6

Ionotropic:

GABAA receptors (THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR PHARMACOLOGY LOTS OF DRUGS TARGET HERE !!!!)

GABAC receptors (retina

Question 7

What does glutamate do ?

what does GABA do ?

Answer 7

MAKE YOUR BRAIN GO

STOP BRAIN GETTING OVERACTIVE

Question 8

Explain signal intergration

Answer 8

Glu and GABA are the main drivers of neuronal activity via ionotropic receptors: depolarising (Glu), hyperpolarising (GABA)

Other neurotransmitters modulate cell activity via receptors or altering ion channel activity

Question 9

What are the dopaine receptors ?

Answer 9

Receptors:

Metabotropic

D1	Gq-linked
D2	Gi/o-linked

Question 10

Where are the three places that release dopamine and what do the pathways do ?

Answer 10

Substantia nigra
motor control pathway

Ventral tegmental area
reward pathway eg drug addiction and impulsive behaviour

Arcuate nucleus
hormone release especially prolactin

Question 11

How is noradrenaline made

Answer 11

metabolised from dopamine

Question 12

what are the receptors that noradrenaline bind to ?

Answer 12

Question 13

Where is noradrenalin released from in the brain

Answer 13

Locus coeruleus

Question 14

What is the effect of noradrenaline

Answer 14

Widespread innervation of brain

Generally stimulant:
↑ arousal
↑ alertness
↑ reward
↑ excitement

Question 15

What is 5-HT

Answer 15

Serotonin

Question 16

What are the receptors for 5-HT (Serotonin)

Answer 16

Ionotropic
5-HT3 – cation channel

Metabotropic:
5-HT1 Gi/o-linked
5-HT2 Gq-linked
5-HT4 Gs-linked

Question 17

Where is 5-HT (Serotonin released from)

Answer 17

Dorsal raphe nuclei

Question 18

What is the function of 5-HT (Serotonin)

Answer 18

Mood (positive / anxiety)
Body temperature
Appetite
Cognitive (e.g. memory)
Arousal

Question 19

What is the Acetocholine receptors ?

Answer 19

Ionotropic:
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR)
Cation channel

Metabotropic:
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR)

Question 20

Where is Acetylcholine released from ?

Answer 20

Numerous subcortical and brainstem nuclei

Question 21

What is the function of acetychline

Answer 21

Complex, wide-ranging effects, generally stimulant:

↑ arousal
↑ memory
Cognitive

Question 22

Whar is the function of histamine and what is its receptor?

Answer 22

Histamine:
Mostly involved in sleep regulation – pro-arousal
Receptors: H1 – Gq-linked
H2 – GC-linked
H3 (Gi/o)& H4

Question 23

What is the function of Glycine and what is its receptor ?

Answer 23

Glycine (Gly):
Main inhibitory NT in the spinal cord (instead of GABA)
Ligand-gated chloride channels, very similar to GABAA