Wed 10/28 NTs and MS Flashcards
The 2 types of glial cells
What is the general function of these two types?
- Macroglia – Support and maintain neuronal plasticity
- Microglia – immune cells
More detail on how microglia act as immne cells (3)
- Activation produces inflammatory cytokines within CNS
- Response of fever- increased sleep, reduced, appetite, lethargy
- Aging may provide a brain environment in which microglia activation continues, contributing to the pathogenesis of neurologic disease (meaning there is no longer a dormant phase for microglia so they keep on truckin’ and that causes problems)
Which cells are considered macroglia (3)
- astrocytes
- oligodendrocytes
- Schwann cells
Why are astrocytes important to CNS? (3)
- CNS connective tissue- provide support and structure
- Can monitor and remove extracellular glutamate and other “neuronal debris” after brain injury
- Astroglial changes are an early response in CNS injury; swelling at interface with vascular system
Why are oligodendrocytes important to CNS?
responsible for production of the myelin sheath of the axon
Why are Schwann cells important to PNS?
produce myelin sheath for PNS axons
Would a nerve conduction velocity test be appropriate for diagnosing MS?
What test may assist with diagnosis and why?
- Probably not, because it only detects abnormalities in PNS, not CNS
- EMG- records muscle activity
- A person with MS does not have normal muscle activity so abnormal EMG activity would be detected.
**NCV could be used as differential diagnosis if it was unclear about PNS vs. CNS involvement
Points to note about spinal cord glial cells and pain signals (3)
- Spinal cord glial cells amplify pain signals and are activated by certain peripheral sensory signals
- Respond by producing cytokines
- New area of research in pain control
3 large groups of neurotransmitters that we need to know
- Amines
- Amino Acids
- Neuroactive Peptides
Three types of Amines (one has two subtypes)
KNOW!
- Acetylcholine:
- Catecholamines
- Dopamine
- Norepinepherin
- Serotonin
Three types of Amino Acids
- GABA
- Glutamate
- Glycine
Two types of Peptides
- Enkaphalins and ß-endorphins
- Substance P
Acetylcholine: primary location in CNS, general effect, and associated response
KNOW!
- cerebral cortex (many areas), basal ganglia, limbic and thalamic regions, spinal interneurons
- excitation
- decreases in production associated with diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and myastheniagravis
Dopamine: primary location in CNS, general effect, and associated response
KNOW!
- basal ganglia, limbic system
- Inhibition
- decreased levels responsible for symptoms associated with parkinsonism
Norepinephrine: primary location in CNS, general effect, and associated response
KNOW!
- Neurons originating in brainstem and hypothalamus that project through the other areas of brain
- Inhibition
- related to cocaine or amphetamine
Serotonin: primary location in CNS, general effect, and associated response
KNOW!
- neurons originating in the brainstem that project upward to hypothalmus and downward to SC
- inhibition
- involved in the control of mood and anxiety
GABA: primary location in CNS, general effect, and associated response
KNOW!
- interneurons throughout the SC, cerebellum, basal ganglia, cerebral cortex
- inhibition
- increasing GABA activity decreases incidence of seizure activity
Glycine: primary location in CNS, general effect, and associated response
KNOW!
- interneurons in SC and brainstem
- inhibition
- more active in the SC than the CNS
Glutamate: primary location in CNS, general effect, and associated response
KNOW!
- interneurons throughout brain and spinal cord
- excitation
- degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, ALS, or Alzheimer’s may be related to increases in glumate; increased levels contribute to the secondary damage associated with stroke and SCI
*Aspartate was listed with glutamate in Ciccone but not Goodman and Fuller chart
Enkephalins: primary location in CNS, general effect, and associated response
KNOW!
- pain suppression pathways in spinal cord and brain
- excitation
- pain control acheived by use of drugs (opiates) that bind to endorphin and enkephalin receptors
**ß-endorphins listed with Enkephalins in Goodman and Fuller chart but not Ciccone
Substance P: primary location in CNS, general effect, and associated response
KNOW!
- pathways in SC and brain that mediate painful stimuli
- excitation
- involved in pain pathways
List some clinical manifestations of CNS disorders (5)
- Coordination disorders
- Changes in higer brain/cortical function
- Movement disorders
- Brainstem dysfunction – important processing station acts as conduit for spinal cord tracts, cerebellar and vestibular functions, and Reticular formation – movement
- Sensory disturbances: Skin, muscle, joint signals, cranial nerve functions
Clinical manifestations or deficits seen more specifically in higher brain/ cortical area with CNS dysfunction (7)
- Hemispheric syndromes- (ex: stroke)– inability to orient body in space and produce appropriate motor responses
- Emotional instability, disorders of emotional adjustment
- Attention, memory, reasoning, problem-solving
- Altered states of consciousness
- Autonomic dysfunction
- Aging – loss of cells, efficiency, average loss of 15% of nerve conduction velocity in CNS
- Language
List of diagnostic tools for CNS disorder-list from Dr.T’s pp (9)
- Clinical exam – history, symptoms, signs, your assessment
- CT scan
- MRI- T1, T2, Functional MRI
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan)
- Single-photon emission CT (SPECT)
- Electroencephalogy (EEG)- Look at amplitude of neuronal transmission, both focal and global
- Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials- Useful in assessing hearing, level of function in comatose individuals, brain stem function
- Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography- Brain hemodynamics, can also detect emboli
- Near-infrared Spectroscopy- Brain oxygen saturation

