OCB03-2009 NORADRENALINE Flashcards
What type of function do α-adrenergic receptors have?
Excitatory or inhibitory
What type of function do β-adrenergic receptors have?
Excitatory
What CNS functions is NA important in?
Arousal
Central blood pressure regulation
Mood control
What are the two major nuclei containing noradrenergic neurons?
Locus coeruleus
Caudal raphe nuclei
Where is the locus coeruleus found?
Midbrain
Where are the caudal raphe nuclei found?
Near brainstem
Where do noradrenergic neurons from the locus coeruleus project to?
Frontal cortex
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Limbic system
Cerebellum
Where do noradrenergic neurons from the caudal raphe nuclei project to?
Ascend to amygdala
Descend to spinal cord
How is NA formed?
Dopamine –> NA by dopamine-β-hydroxylase in vesicles
Where is dopamine-β-hydroxylase found?
In vesicles
What is the pathway of NA degradation in neurons?
NA –> dihydroxymandelic acid by MAOa
Dihydroxymandelic acid –> methoxyhydroxymandelic acid by COMT
What is the pathway of NA degradation in glial cells?
NA –> normetanephrine by COMT
Normetanephrine –> methoxyhydroxymandelic acid by MAOa
What can be measured to determine NA activity in the CNS?
Measure methoxyhydroxymandelic acid in urine
What does VMA mean?
Methoxyhydroxymandelic acid (vanillylmandelic acid)
How is NA removed from the synapse?
NET into neurons
ENT into glial cells
What does NET mean?
Norepinephrine transporter