Unit 2

Question 1

What does the positive membrane potential (Nav, Kv) cause to open…

Answer 1

open voltage gated calcium channels
(densely located at terminal)

Question 2

Calcium binds with proteins on the surface of the vesicle and activates them. What does this do?

Answer 2

the proteins allow vesicles to fuse with cell membrane (of PREsynaptic neuron) and release their contents (NT) into synapse

Question 3

In order to release neurotransmitters, we need what to enter the cell?

Answer 3

CALCIUM

Question 4

Do neurotransmitter pass through channels?

Answer 4

NOOOOOO
-bind to receptors that are connected to channels that then open allowing flow of ions

Question 5

3 ways of removing Neurotransmitters

Answer 5

1. Reuptake
2. Enzymatic Degradation
3. Diffusion

Question 6

Reuptake

Answer 6

pre-synaptic terminal sucks it up and repackages it for reuse

Question 7

enzymatic degradation

Answer 7

special enzymes in synapse destroy it

Question 8

diffusion

Answer 8

-it slowly moves out of synapse
-concentration gradient (nt diffuse from area of high concentration to low concentration)

Question 9

Glutamate

Answer 9

-amino acid
-most abundant excitatory NT
-binds to ligand gated Na+ channel (causes EPSP)

Question 10

GABA

Answer 10

-amino acid
-most abundant inhibitory NT
-binds to ligand gated Cl- channel (causes IPSP)

Question 11

Monomines
-indolamines

Answer 11

seratonin

Question 12

Catecholamines

Answer 12

-dopamine
-norepinephrine
-epinephrine

Question 13

Acetylcholine

Answer 13

-released at the neuromuscular junction from motorneuron
-neurons that release this are called CHOLINERGIC NEURONS

Question 14

Affinity

Answer 14

the strength and likelihood of NT binding with receptor
-high affinity=higher binding likelihood and strength
ex. dopamine receptors have a high affinity for dopamine

Question 15

Receptors come in two forms:

Answer 15

Iontropic receptors
Metabotropic receptors

Question 16

Iontropic receptors

Answer 16

ligand gated channel
-when NT binds to a channel the channel opens

Question 17

Iontropic receptors
-Glutamate receptors

Answer 17

1st AMPA- when glutamate binds with the AMPA receptor it causes the opening of Na+ channels
2nd NMDA- Has magnesium ion blocking the flux of ions through channel
-an action potential will depolarize the membrane and cause the removal of magnesium
-now when glutamate binds to receptor AGAIN, calcium can flow through channel into cell

Question 18

Activation of both AMPA NMDA coupled channel will…

Answer 18

Increase the length of an EPSP ALOT

Question 19

Iontropic receptors
-GABA receptors

Answer 19

-bound to inotropic Cl- channel
-causes IPSP on postsynaptic cell
ex. alcohol and Xanax (allosteric modulators of the receptor)

Question 20

Metabotropic receptors

Answer 20

DO NOT have channel
-when a NT binds a 2nd protein is related into cell (G PROTEIN)
-effects are much slower than ionotropic

Question 21

GPCRs to know

Answer 21

Gq
Gs
Gi

Question 22

Gq

Answer 22

=excitatory
-increase levels of IP3 causing release of calcium

Question 23

Gs

Answer 23

=excitatory
-increase levels of CAMP
-activates adenylyl

Question 24

Gi

Answer 24

=inhibitory
-decreases levels of cAMP
-inhibits adenylyl

Question 25

Autoreceptors

Answer 25

receptors that exit on the presynaptic membranes
-think of it as monitoring system
-stops release of the NT being released

Question 26

Pharmacology

Answer 26

the study of drug origins, effects, and mechanisms of action
-drugs can exert their physiological effects by binding with receptors

Question 27

Psychotropic drugs must reach…

Answer 27

THE BRAIN
-cross blood brain barrier
-have multiple targets not just one

Question 28

endogenous

Answer 28

=already existing in your body
-each drug alters endogenous signaling cascades
ex. your body produces the NT serotonin, drugs can influence dopamine signaling

Question 29

agonists

Answer 29

a drug that binds with and ACTIVATES an endogenous receptor or signaling process

Question 30

antagonists

Answer 30

a drug that binds with and BLOCKS the actions of an endogenous receptor or signaling process
-ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist (psychedelics and ketamine are suggested to have antidepressant effects)

Question 31

modulators

Answer 31

CHANGE the way a receptor function, increasing or decreasing the effectiveness of the normal ligand
ex. alcohol changing GABA receptors

Question 32

Drug metabolism

Answer 32

drug molecules get “broken down” by enzymes in your blood
-terminate ability for any psychiatric affect
-chopped up into METABOLITES

Question 33

What enzyme breaks down 5HT (serotonin) and psilocin

Answer 33

Monoamine oxidase breaks down 5HT and psilocin
-liver is primary source of these enzymes

Question 34

Drugs and their metabolites

Answer 34

-Active drug —> inactive metabolite (most common)
-Inactive drug —> active drug (psilocybin to psilocin)
-Active drug —> active metabolite (heroin and morphine), (prolongs drug actions)

Question 35

tryptamine

Answer 35

Psilocybin/psilocin, DMT
type of psychedelic
-5HT2A receptor agonist

Question 36

addition

Answer 36

drugs in the same class share targets
ex. alcohol and Xanax both affect GABA

Question 37

Subtraction

Answer 37

drugs may have opposing effects
ex. using Naloxone (narcan) to stop heroin overdose

Question 38

some tryptamine psychedelics require “activation”
for example…

Answer 38

psilocybin cannot permeate the blood brain barrier and binds with low affinity to the 5HT2A receptor
-psilocybin —-> psilocin in order to affect brain

Question 39

Duration of drug action depends on…

Answer 39

1. Amount of drug +route of administration
2. affinity for receptor and availability
3. ability for drug to “resist” enzymatic degradation
4. the set of the individual

Question 40

Set=
Setting=

Answer 40

set= everything about the individual (age, genetics, etc.)
setting= where (clinic, at home, etc)

Question 41

Psychedelics act at the level…

Answer 41

5HT2A receptor
-5HT2A is Gq coupled !!!!!