Introduction to Neurotransmitters

Vocabulary flashcards related to neurotransmitters, their synthesis, types, and functions.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical substances that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.

Otto Loewi

A neuroscientist known for discovering chemical neurotransmitters through the frog heart experiment.

Synaptic Vesicles

Membrane-bound structures that store neurotransmitters prior to release into the synaptic cleft.

Action Potentials

Electrical impulses that trigger the release of neurotransmitters from nerve terminals.

ChAT

Choline acetyltransferase, the enzyme responsible for synthesizing acetylcholine.

Ionotropic Receptors

Receptors that form an ion channel pore that opens in response to neurotransmitter binding.

Metabotropic Receptors

Receptors that are linked to signal pathways and can alter cell activity indirectly through G proteins.

Reuptake

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron after signal transmission.

Enzymatic Deactivation

The breakdown of neurotransmitters by enzymes, an important mechanism for inactivating neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft.

Calmodulin Complex

The complex formed when calcium ions bind to calmodulin, important for neurotransmitter release.

Neuropeptides

A class of neurotransmitters that includes endorphins and enkephalins, which have various functions in the nervous system.

Vesicle Exocytosis

The process by which neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles into the synaptic cleft.

Precursor Molecules

Substances from which neurotransmitters are synthesized, often derived from diet.

Gases as Neurotransmitters

Types of neurotransmitters (e.g., nitric oxide) that can diffuse freely across membranes.

Nicotinic Receptors

A subtype of acetylcholine receptors that are excitatory, primarily found at the neuromuscular junction.

Muscarinic Receptors

A subtype of acetylcholine receptors that can have inhibitory effects and are found in various tissues.

Glutamate

The most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, important for synaptic plasticity.

5-HT (Serotonin)

A neurotransmitter derived from tryptophan, involved in mood regulation and various other functions.

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, crucial for reducing neuronal excitability.

Anandamide

A lipid neurotransmitter known for its role in pain, mood, and memory.