Section 1 Flashcards
Physiological and Pharmacological Aspects of the Central Nervous System
What are the characteristics of the neurotransmitter glutamate?
Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS and is found in almost all neurons.
Glutamate acts on a family of receptors called the glutamatergic receptors. Glutamatergic neurons are
important for learning.
What are the characteristics of the Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)?
Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS. GABAergic neurons and receptors are found in high concentrations in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and
cerebellum. A number of CNS depressants (e.g. benzodiazepines) enhance GABA receptor function.
What is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS?
Glutamate
Glutamatergic neurons are important for what?
Learning
What is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS?
Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)
Where are GABAergic neurons and receptors found in high concentrations?
Cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum.
Does acetylcholine produce an excitatory or inhibitory response in the CNS?
Excitatory
How are receptors that bind acetylcholine termed?
Cholinergic receptors
What are the two types of cholinergic receptors?
Nicotinic receptors and Muscarinic receptors
Nicotinic and Muscarinic receptors are what type of receptors?
Cholinergic receptors
Nicotinic receptors can be stimulated by…
Acetylcholine or nicotine
Muscarinic receptors are involved with what?
Learning, memory, and cognitive function
Muscarinic receptors can be stimulated by…
Acetylcholine or muscarine
Drugs that block the action of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors produce what?
Amnesia
Loss of cholinergic neurons with muscarinic receptors is thought to be associated with what?
Alzheimer’s Disease.
What are two catecholamines similar in structure?
Dopamine and Norepinephrine.
Dopaminergic pathways are involved in control of what?
Some hormonal systems, motor coordination, and motivation and reward.
Disturbances in the dopaminergic pathways are associated with what diseases?
Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia.
What are the two main classes of receptors norepinephrine can bind to?
Alpha and beta.
Activation of alpha and beta receptors usually leads to what?
Excitation of the cell.
In the CNS, hyperactivity of the serotonergic system is involved with what?
Anxiety
In the CNS, hypo-activity of the serotonergic system has been implicated in…
Depression
What are the 3 main classes of endogenous opioid peptides?
Enkephalins, endorphins, and dynorphins. They have varying degrees of selectivity for the three opioid receptors.
What are the three opioid receptors?
mu, delta, and kappa. All opiates interact with these receptors.
