The Biogenic Amines Flashcards

1
Q

Name the 5 Biogenic amine neurotransmitters

A

3 Catecholamines: Dopamine, Norepinephrine, and Epinephrine

Histamine
Serotonin

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2
Q

Catecholamines are derived from this common precursor:

A

The amino acid Tyrosine

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3
Q

The first step in synthesizing a catecholamine is to:

A

Synthesize dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)

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4
Q

What is required to synthesize DOPA?

A

Needs a reaction of Tyrosine hydroxylase, Oxygen (substrate), and tetrahydrobiopterin (co-substrate)

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5
Q

Dopamine is produced by what action?

A

The action of DOPA decarboxylase on DOPA

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6
Q

Major Dopamine containing area of the brain

A

Corpus Striatum

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7
Q

What is the Corpus Striatum?

A

a collective name given to the caudate nucleus and lentiform nucleus within the basal ganglia.

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8
Q

The Corpus Striatum receives input from

A

All over the cortex and importantly the substantia nigra at the base of the midbrain

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9
Q

Corpus Striatum play an essential role in what?

A

coordination of body movements.

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10
Q

What’s up with Parkinson’s and Dopamine?

A

Dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra degenerate leading to motor dysfunction

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11
Q

Besides motor movements what else does Dopamine play a role in?

A

motivation, reward, and reinforcement.

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12
Q

What’s up with Cocaine and Dopamine?

A

Cocaine acts by stimulating the release of Dopamine

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13
Q

Dopamine binds to…

A

Dopamine receptors and certain β-adrenergic receptors

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14
Q

What’s up with Dopamine and the treatment of Shock?

A

It’s used clinically to treat shock because it dilates renal arteries through dopamine receptor activation and increases cardiac output by activating β-adrenergic receptors in the heart

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15
Q

The synthesis of Norepinephrine requires

A

dopamine β-hydroxylase and the transport of dopamine into adrenergic terminals via vesicles

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16
Q

The most prominent class of neurons that synthesize norepinephrine is

A

sympathetic ganglion cells

17
Q

Norepinephrine is also highly utilized by this brain region

A

Locus Coerulus

18
Q

Norepinephrine in the Locus Coerulus influences:

A

sleep & wakefulness
Attention
Feeding Behavior

19
Q

Among the Catecholamines, this one is present at lower levels

A

epinephrine

20
Q

Enzyme that synthesizes epinephrine

A

phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase

21
Q

Phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase is found only in

A

epinephrine-secreting neurons

22
Q

Epinephrine containing neurons in the CNS are found in two groups in this brain region:

A

rostral medulla

23
Q

What is the function of epinephrine in the rostral medulla

A

This is not known

24
Q

What happens after to catecholamines left in the synaptic gap?

A

They are removed by reuptake into nerve terminals or surrounding glial cells by a Na+ dependent transporter.

25
Q

Two major enzymes involved in catabolism of catecholamines are:

A
Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) and
Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT)
26
Q

Histamine is produced from this amino acid

A

Histidine

27
Q

Histamine is metabolized by

A

Histamine methyltransferase AND MAO combined actions

28
Q

High concentrations of histamine are found in

A

the hypothalamus

29
Q

What does the central histamine projections mediate?

A

arousal and attention

30
Q

When is Histamine released from Mast cells?

A

In response to allergic reactions or tissue damage

31
Q

Chemical name of Serotonin

A

5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)

32
Q

5-HT is synthesized from this amino acid

A

tryptophan

33
Q

How is tryptophan hydroxylated? By what enzyme?

A

Tryptophan is taken into the neuron by a plasma membrane transporter.

The enzyme that catalyzes the reaction is tryptophan 5-hydroxylase

34
Q

Where is Serotonin located?

A

in neurons of the raphe region of the pons and upper brainstem (with wide projections into the forebrain)

35
Q

What has Serotonin been implicated in the regulation of?

A

Sleep and wakefullness