Lecture on Monoamines: Dopamine and Serotonin

These flashcards cover the key concepts from the lecture on monoamines, specifically focusing on dopamine and serotonin, their synthesis, effects, and related brain pathways.

What two major monoamines are discussed in this lecture?

Dopamine and Serotonin.

What is the main neurotransmitter associated with the catecholamine subgroup?

Dopamine (DA).

Who first recognized dopamine as a neurotransmitter, and in what year?

Katharine Montagu in 1957.

Which neurotransmitter is also classified as a hormone and is associated with the catecholamine group?

Norepinephrine (NE).

What amino acid is primarily required for the synthesis of catecholamines?

Tyrosine.

What is the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of dopamine and norepinephrine?

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH).

What treatment drug is given to Parkinson's patients that can cross the blood-brain barrier?

L-DOPA.

Which transporter is responsible for moving dopamine and norepinephrine into vesicles for storage?

Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2).

What effect do drugs like amphetamine and methamphetamine have on dopamine release?

They cause the release of dopamine without action potential, leading to increased alertness and euphoria.

Which part of the brain contains the pathways critical for updating reward values?

Mesocortical tract.

What does a prediction error signal represent in the context of dopamine pathways?

The difference between the obtained reward and the expected reward.

What are the two families of dopamine receptors?

D1-like family and D2-like family.

Which amino acid is converted into serotonin, and what is the rate-limiting enzyme for this conversion?

Tryptophan; the enzyme is tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH).

What phenomenon occurs when drugs block the reuptake of serotonin?

Increased levels of serotonin in the synapse leading to enhanced serotonin function.

What are the major effects associated with the use of MDMA?

Increased arousal, euphoria, perceptual awareness, and prosocial effects.

What common condition can occur as a result of MDMA use?

Serotonin syndrome.

What is the primary enzyme responsible for the breakdown of serotonin?

Monoamine oxidase (MAO-A).

What neurotransmitter pathways originate from the raphe nuclei?

Serotonergic pathways.