Synapses and Neurotransmission Flashcards

1
Q

What neurotransmitter is released from the axon terminal of a neuron when it activates a muscle cell?

A

ACh

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2
Q

What type of ACh receptor does ACh bind to on the postsynaptic side when a neuron stimulates a muscle?

A

nicotinic

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3
Q

What enzyme is responsible for the enzymatic degradation of ACh?

A

acetylcholinesterase

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4
Q

What are 3 pathways for removal of a neurotransmitter from the synaptic cleft?

A

enzymatic degradation
reuptake
diffusion

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5
Q

How is dopamine, NE, and serotonin removed from the synaptic cleft?

A

reuptake (mono-amine oxidase also enzymatically breaks it down within the terminal)

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6
Q

How is glutamate removed from the synaptic cleft?

A

diffusion- into glial cells

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7
Q

What two molecules does acetylcholinesterase break down ACh into?

A

choline and acetate

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8
Q

Where does choline move back to?

A

presynaptic neuron

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9
Q

What two molecules can be reassembled to form acetylcholine

A

acetyl CoA and choline

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10
Q

This disease is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack nicotinic ACh receptors

A

Myasthenia gravis

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11
Q

How does myasthenia gravis cause weakness?

A

There is a lack of ACh receptors to receive the ACh

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12
Q

How does pyridostigmine improve strength?

A

inhibits the enzyme that breaks down ACh so it’s left in the synaptic cleft longer

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13
Q

_________ serve to bring the membrane closer to threshold for generating an AP

A

excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

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14
Q

____________ make the cell’s membrane potential more negative, making it harder to generate an AP

A

inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)

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15
Q

What neurotransmitter classification is ACh?

A

choline ester

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16
Q

What are the 3 catecholamines

A

dopamine, NE, epinephrine

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17
Q

What is the pathway of the 5 molecules involved in catecholamine synthesis

A

tyrosine–> L-dopa—> dopamine—-> NE—-> epinephrine

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18
Q

True or false: there is no dopamine B-hydroxylase in a dopamine neuron

A

true, that enzyme leads to the production of NE

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19
Q

Is there dopamine in an epinephrine cell?

A

yes, somewhere there has to be since it is a precursor of epinephrine

20
Q

This catecholamine is involved in movement as well as the reward pathway

A

dopamine

21
Q

This is a movement disorder that involves the loss of dopamine-releasing neurons in the substantia nigra in the basal ganglia

A

Parkinson’s disease

22
Q

What drug is used to treat Parkinson’s disease?

A

L-dopa, it passes through BBB

23
Q

Why is L-dopa often given with deprenyl?

A

deprenyl prevents the breakdown of L-dopa by blocking MAO-B (monoamine oxidase)

24
Q

Is Epi a neurotransmitter or a hormone?

A

Mainly a hormone, it is released into the blood

25
Q

is NE a neurotransmitter or a hormone?

A

can act as both

26
Q

What does G protein coupled mean?

A

if a ligand binds on the outside of the cell, it will have an effect on the inside of the cell

27
Q

What type of receptors are adrenergic receptors?

A

G protein coupled and linked to second messenger signal pathways

28
Q

This adrenergic receptor is mainly responsible for blood vessels; it causes vasoconstriction and increases BP

A

A1

29
Q

This adrenergic receptor is responsible for tachycardia, increased myocardial contractility, and increased lipolysis

A

B1

30
Q

This adrenergic receptor is responsible for bronchodilation

A

B2

31
Q

This adrenergic receptor presynaptic and is mostly regulatory. It inhibits NE release, ACh release, and insulin release

A

A2

32
Q

______ __________ are drugs that increase the levels of catecholamins

A

MAO inhibitors

33
Q

what is serotonin made from?

A

tryptophan

34
Q

This prevents the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic terminal which leaves it in the synapse for a longer period of time

A

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

35
Q

What are 2 large functions of serotonin?

A

regulating sleep
regulating emotion

36
Q

What is the main excitatory a.a. neurotransmitter?

A

glutamate

37
Q

What is the main inhibitory a.a. neurotransmitter?

A

GABA

38
Q

What are the 2 types of glutamate receptors

A

metabotropic- more complicated
ionotropic- ion channels

39
Q

When glutamate binds to _______, it opens a Na+ channel and causes depolarization

A

AMPA

40
Q

______ acts as a Ca2+ blocker

A

Mg

41
Q

What type of receptor releases Mg when glutamate binds, which allows Ca2+ to rush in

A

NMDA

42
Q

What is GABA made from?

A

glutamate

43
Q

This type of GABA opens a Cl- channel which leads to hyperpolarization

A

GABAa

44
Q

This type of GABA receptor opens a K+ channel

A

GABAb (*remember, K+ will move out of the cell)

45
Q

This is released by afferent neurons that relay sensory information into the CNS, especially indicates damage and pain

A

substance P