Serotonin

how does VMAT2 interact with the NE transport?

protects and gets them into vesicles

Does reserpine block VMAT2?

yes, it blocks VMAT2

what does stress enhance?

the formation of emotional memories

serotonin

5-HT

functions related to serotonin

mood, anxiety, eating, social behavior, pain modulation, aggression, nausea, sleep/waking

does serotonin act centrally or peripherally?

it acts both ways

side effects of fen-phen

stimulates release of 5-HT, damaging effects on heart/blood pressure, action on enteric nervous system(gut)

where is 90% of the body’s serotonin produced?

the gut, influenced by gut bacteria

raphe nuclei

main locations of the cell bodies of neurons that release serotonin

serotonin pathways in a rat

dorsal and median raphe

serotonin synthesis steps

L-Tryptophan»Tryptophan hydroxylase»5-HTP»AADC»serotonin

how does tryptophan enter into the brain?

BBB(competitve)

how can brain tryptophan be boosted through the BBB?

eat high-tryptophan proteins, or high carb foods(reduce plasma levels of competing molecules)

Why may there be a limit to increasing serotonin?

the conversion of tryptophan to 5-HTP is the rate limiting step

how does thanksgiving affect being awake?

large meal lowers orexin levels?

what does orexin promote?

promotes waking

what do the raphe nuclei tend to promote?

promote waking by serotonin

how does serotonin promote sleep?

by serving as a precursor to melatonin

SERT

transporter protein which takes serotonin back up into the presynaptic celll

what blocks SERT?

SSRI’s like fluoxetine

 common name for fluoxetine

prozac

can 5-HT be degraded by MAO?

yes it is degraded by it

How do antidepressant MAO inhibitors affect 5-HT activity?

it increases the 5-HT activity

MDMA is chemically similar to..?

amphetamines

effects of MDMA

euphoria, increased sociability, blurred vision, sweating, rapid heartbeat, rapid depletion of serotonin(few days after taking)

wha other animals does MDMA increase sociability in?

mice and octopi

Where is the release of serotonin thought to promote sociability?

in the nucleus accumbens