Synapses and neurotransmitters 2 Flashcards
What is the criteria for a neurotransmitter?
Present in synaptic vesicles
Released in response to stimulation
Act on the post synaptic neuron
What does blocking the neurotransmitter prevent?
Synaptic transmission
What are 3 classes of neurotransmitter?
Amino acids
Amines
Peptides
What do peptide releasing hormones also sometimes release?
A small molecule transmitter called a ‘co-transmitter’
What can amino acids and amine neurotransmitters bind to?
Ligand gated ion channels
G protein coupled receptors
What can peptide neurotransmitters bind to?
G protein coupled receptors
Where are amino acids and amine neurotransmitters stored?
In synaptic vesicles
Where are peptide neurotransmitters stored?
Secretory granules
What is a ionotropic receptor?
Ligand gated ion channels that directly depolarise or hyperpolarise the postsynaptic cell
What is a metabotropic receptor?
G protein coupled receptor which can produce second messengers and cause biochemical changes throughout the cell
Is glutamate an excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmitter?
An excitatory
Where is Glutamate found?
In CNS, in all neurons
How is glutamate action terminated?
Selective reuptake into presynaptic terminals and glia
What are the 3 ionotropic receptors glutamate can act on?
AMPA
NMDA
Kainate
What does glutamate binding to AMPA receptors trigger?
Na+ and K+ currents, resulting in an EPSP
What do NMDA receptors often co exist with?
AMPA receptors