Pharmacology of the CNS Flashcards

1
Q

What are the criteria for a neurotransmitter? (NT)

A
  1. Presence
  2. Stored in vesicles
  3. Release
  4. Effect
  5. Termination of effect
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are some properties of transmitters in the central nervous system (CNS) ?

A
  • They are ALWAYS agonists
  • They can produce fast or slow effects
  • They can excite or inhibit
  • They are determined by receptors

Ion channels — SLOW — neurotransmission
2nd messengers — FAST — neuromodulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the major EXCITATORY and INHIBITORY transmitters in the brain?

A

Excitatory: GLUTAMATE

Inhibitory: GABA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Which neurotransmitters have mixed effects?

A

Acetylcholine (ACh)
Noradrenaline (NA)
Dopamine (DA)
Serotonin (5-HT)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What kinds of molecules are substance P and opioids?

A

Peptides

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Is substance P excitatory or inhibitory?

Are opioids excitatory or inhibitory?

A

Substance P — excitatory

Opioids — Inhibitory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Is Nitric Oxide (NO) excitatory or inhibitory?

Is Adenosine excitatory or inhibitory?

A

NO and adenosine are BOTH excitatory.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Which receptors does Glutamate bind?
How do these receptors differ in their properties?

And what about for substance P?

A

AMPA — Fast
Kainate — Fast
NMDA — Delayed
Metabotropic (GPCR) — Slow

Substance P: Neurokinin 1 — Slow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Which two neurotransmitters are present in small amounts in the nervous system?

A

Substance P and Opioids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

State some processes in which Glutamate plays a crucial role.

A

Pain — wind-up, LTP in spinal cord
Memory — LTP, etc. in hippocampus
Epilepsy — forebrain
Development — neuronal contacts

Cell death — excessive activation of Glutamate receptors such as NMDA results in excess influx of calcium, which increases osmotic pressure, thereby activating enzymes which increase [NO] subsequently releasing free radicals which leads to death.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly