Neurotransmitters

What is the difference between ionotropic and metabotropic receptors?

  • o Ionotropic receptors: pore opens up and ions go through
  • o Metabotropic Receptors: no ion  channel (still a binding place for neurotransmitters (G-Protein attached to the intracellular side)
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Most common Excitatory Neurotransmitter: Glutamate (memory formation)

Most Common Inhibitory  Neurotransmitter: Gaba (gaba receptor targeted in anxiety treatment)

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Where are neurotransmitters made?

  • o They are made within neurons. 
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  • What nuclei are responsible for (a) serotonin, (b) dopamine, and (c) acetylcholine?
  • o (a) Serotonin (Midbrain Raphe Nuclei)
  • o (b) Dopamine (Substantia Nigra or Ventral Tegmental Area)
  • o (c)Acetycholine (Basal Forebrain)
  • Where do the initial precursors (the first thing in the synthesis pathway) for dopamine, norepinepherine, epinepherine, serotonin and acetylcholine come from (very general answer to this…I’ll tell you even! DIET)?

Choline (Acetylcholine), Phenylalanine (Dopamine, Norepinephrine, and Epinephrine) and Tryptophan (Seratonin)

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What neurotransmitters share a pathway of synthesis? Collectively what are they called?

Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Epinephrine are in a group called Catecholamines.

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What neurotransmitters go into the group “monoamines”?

Dopamine, Noradrenaline, Octopamine, and Serotonin

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Can a neuron respond to more than 1 neurotransmitter? Can a neuron release more than 1 neurotransmitter?

Yes, a neuron can respond to multiple neurotransmitters, its for whatever they have receptors for. Yes, some neurons can release multiple neurotransmitters.

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What are the 3 ways to remove a neurotransmitter from a synapse?

Absorption by Glia, Enzymatic Degradations , and Reuptake (by presynaptic terminal (transporter protein))

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Define agonist and antagonist and provide an example of each.

Agonist: a drug that mimics or increases the effects of a neurotransmitter (many antidepressants (blocks serotonin reuptake))

Antagonist: drug that blocks the effects of a neurotransmitter (many antipsychotics (block dopamine receptors therefore dopamine antagonists))

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In general, psychotropic drugs affect brain activity because they affect neurotransmission. Provide a couple of examples of how a drug could affect a neurotransmitter system (for example, blocking the receptor).

Increases or decreases neurotransmitter synthesis

Increases or decreases neurotransmitter release

Binds to and activate a receptor (receptor agonist)