TBL - Neurotransmitters Flashcards
What drug classes act on the brain?
Opioids
Antiseizure
Parkinson
Antidepressants
What drugs act on spinal cord?
Opioids
Drugs for neuropathic pain
Drugs to treat spasticity
What drugs act on afferent neurons to spinal cord?
Local anesthetics
What drugs act on efferent neurons from spinal cord?
ANS drug
List 4 major classes of CNS neurotransmitters and give specific examples
Monoamines
+ 5-HT
+ Catecholamines (NE, EPI, DA)
ACh
Amino acids
+ glutamate (excitatory)
+ GABA/glycine (inhibitory)
Peptides: Endogenous opioid peptides
Identify the two classes of neurotransmitter receptors and correlate the speed of excitation with their primary receptor class
Ligand-gated ion channel (LIC) = rapid signals
GPCRs = generate second messengers = slow modulation
Identify receptors bound to by monoamines
Dopamine = D (G)
NE/EPI = alpha1, alpha2, beta1-3 (G, G)
5-HT (1, 2, 4, 5, 6) = G
5-HT3 = LIC
What receptors does ACh bind to?
Muscarinic (G)
Nicotinic (LIC)
Identify amino acid neurotransmitters that bind to receptors
Glutamate
+ NMDA (LIC = Na, Ca)
+ AMPA (LIC = Na)
GABA
+GABA (A) = LIC (Cl)
+GABA (B) = G
Glycine = glycine receptor (LIC)
Identify peptide neurotransmitters and the receptors they bind to
Endorphins and enkephalins
Mu, kappa, delta = G
Describe noradrenergic pathways
Highly branched with a small # of cells of origin (locus ceruleus)
Widespread distribution
Describe serotonergic pathways
Highly branched with a small # of cells of origin (raphe nuclei)
Widespread distribution
Describe dopaminergic pathways
Small # of cells of origin
projections are more discrete and typographically organized/distributed
Name the four dopaminergic pathways and the corresponding CNS functions regulated by dopamine
Nigrostriatal
= movement, motor control
Mesolimbic
= emotion
Mesocortical
= cognition
Tuberoinfundibular
= dec. prolactin
Briefly describe the biogenic amine theory of depression and list 2 major neurotransmitters involved
Cause behind debilitating state of sadness/ inability to feel pleasure =
Dec. NE and Dec. 5-HT
What are examples of treatment available for depression?
SSRIs
SNRIs
MAOIs
Identify disorders associated with dopamine excess vs. deficiency
Parkinson’s = deficiency
Schizophrenia = excess
Describe Parkinson’s disease
Movement disorder characterized by bradykinesia, rigidity, stooped posture, tremor
What is the cause of Parkinson’s?
What treatment is available?
Cause:
Loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra
Tx:
DA - precursor
DA agonist
anti-muscarinic
Identify two diseases associated with acetylcholine excess vs. deficiency
Excess = Parkinson’s
Deficiency = ADHD
What are features of schizophrenia that unaffected lack?
Delusions
Auditory hallucinations
DIsorganized speech
Disorganized behavior
What are features schizophrenics lack?
Social withdrawal
Flattened effect: hard to read their emotions
No motivation
What are causes for schizophrenia?
What Tx is available?
Cause:
Inc. DA in mesolimbic (for positive symptoms)
Tx: DA antagonists (specifically helpful for positive symptoms)
What Tx is available for seizures?
Inc. inhibition = GABA agonists
Dec. excitation = block glutamate release or block AMPA or Glutamate receptors
