Seretonin ☺️

Question 1

Describe how seretonin is synthesised

Answer 1

Tryptophan => 5hydroxytryptophan => seretonin

Question 2

Describe how seretonin is stored

-what drugs are clinically used for and what are they used for

Answer 2

Vesicles

Reserpine (inh vesicle storage => metabolised by MAO) to manage Huntington’s chorea

Question 3

Describe how seretonin is released

Answer 3

Ca dependent release from axon terminals

Question 4

Name the seretonin receptors that respond

• where are they found
• what drugs are clinically useful

Answer 4

5HT receptors

Sumatriptan => 5HT agonist for migraines

Question 5

Describe how seretonin is reuptaken

-what drugs are clinically useful

Answer 5

SERT

Fluoxetine => SSRI
Inipramine => TCA

Question 6

Describe how seretonin is degraded

Answer 6

Seretonin => 5 hydroxyindoleacetic acid

Question 7

What are the 3 main associated diseases

Answer 7

Anxiety, depression => lower amounts of seretonin

Migraines => lower amounts of seretonin

Question 8

Which 5 recreational drugs are implicated in seretonin pathways

Answer 8

LSD, mescaline, psilocybin => seretonin receptor agonist
MDMA => enhances release and blocks reuptake
Amphetamine => block reuptake

Question 9

How is the brain affected during depression

Answer 9

Amygdala enlarges, becomes more active => sleep disturbances

Hippocampus shrinks => memory issues

Affects the limbic system

Question 10

Where is seretonin released from in the brain

Where do the fibres go to

Answer 10

Raphe nuclei => all brain regions

Descending fibres