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Intro to Neuroscience > Neurochemistry > Flashcards

Neurochemistry Flashcards

1
Q

Neurochemistry

A

Basic chemical composition and processes of the nervous system

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2
Q

Neuropharmacology

A

Study of compounds that selectively affect the nervous system

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3
Q

The majority of synapses in mammalian nervous systems are (chemical/ electrical)?

A

Chemical

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4
Q

Electrical synapse (Gap Junction)

A

Fused presynaptic and postsynaptic membrane that allows an action potential to pass directly from one neuron to the next

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5
Q

Which synapse is faster, electrical or chemical?

A

Electrical

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6
Q

Which synapse allows for more flexibility in neuron to neuron communication, electrical or chemical?

A

Chemical

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7
Q

Endogenous ligands

A

neurotransmitters and hormones

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8
Q

4 stages of neurotransmission

A
  1. Synthesis and stored in the axon terminal
  2. Transported to presynaptic membrane and released in response to an action potential
  3. Able to activate the receptors on the target-cell membrane located on the postsynaptic membrane
  4. Inactivation to prevent indefinite activation
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9
Q

Synthesis and storage

A

-neurotransmitters can be synthesized in the axon terminal: building blocks from food are pumped into the cell via transporters (this is how most highly studied neurotransmitters are synthesized)
-neurotransmitters can be synthesized in the cell body: according to instructions contained in the DNA and transported on microtubules to axon terminal

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10
Q

Neurotransmitter release

A

-the action potential opens voltage-sensitive calcium channels
-calcium enters the terminal and binds to the protein calmodulin forming a complex
-complex causes some vesicles to empty their contents into the synapse and others get ready to empty their contents

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11
Q

Exocytosis is mediated by:

A

specialized proteins called SNARES
- v SNARES attach to vesicles
-t SNARES attach to presynaptic membrane

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12
Q

Receptor-site activation

A

after being released, the neurotransmitter diffuses across the synapse and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane

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13
Q

Transmitter-activated receptors

A

protein embedded in the membrane of a cell that has a binding site for a specific neurotransmitter

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14
Q

3 outcomes of neurotransmitters binding to a transmitter-activated receptor?

A
  1. depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane causing excitatory action on the postsynaptic neuron
  2. hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane causing inhibitory action
  3. Initiate other chemical reactions that modulate inhibitory or excitatory action
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15
Q

Autoreceptors

A

receptors that neurotransmitters that do not cross the cleft bind to

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16
Q

Ionotropic receptors

A

-embedded in membrane
-ligand gated ion channels
-opens and closes directly to allow neurotransmitters in

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17
Q

Metabotropic receptor

A

-embedded membrane protein with a binding site for a neurotransmitter, but no pore
-linked to a G protein that can affect other receptor or act with second messengers to affect other cellular processes
-G protein coupled receptor

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18
Q

Deactivation of the neurotransmitter

A
  1. diffusion away from synaptic cleft
  2. degradation by enzymes in the synaptic cleft
  3. Reuptake into the presynaptic neuron for reuse
  4. Taken up by neighboring glial cells
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19
Q

T/F methods of deactivation are mutually exclusive

A

false

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20
Q

Axo-dendritic synapse

A

axon terminal synapses on a dendrite

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21
Q

Axo-somatic

A

axon terminal synapses on the cell body

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22
Q

Axo-axonic

A

synapse between two axons

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23
Q

Type II synapses

A

-inhibitory

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24
Q

Ectopic transmission

A

occurs outside of conventional synapses

25
Q

Varicosities

A

axonal swellings where transmitter may diffuse out

26
Q

Glutamate

A

main excitatory transmitter
cannot pass blood-brain barrier
synthesized within cell using glutamine released by glial cells

27
Q

GABA

A

main inhibitory transmitter

28
Q

Neuropeptides are synthesized in the

A

nucleus

29
Q

Neuropeptides act via

A

g protein coupled receptors

30
Q

Examples of neuropeptides

A

opioids, neurohypophyseal, secretins, gastrin, somatostatin, corticosteroids

31
Q

Endocannabinoids

A

lipid transmitters
Retrograde signal
not packaged in vesicles, synthesized on demand

32
Q

Retrograde signal

A

-action potential in post-synaptic cell causes calcium influx
-increase in calcium triggers endocannabinoid synthesis
-can diffuse across membrane
-binds to inhibitory metabotropic receptors on presynaptic cell (CB1- nervous system, CB2- immune system)
-causes presynaptic channels to close
Overall: signals presynaptic cell to release transmitter

33
Q

Transmitter gases examples

A
  1. NO (vasodilation)
  2. CO (Formation of long-term memories)
34
Q

Transmitter gases are synthesized _____ on demand

A

in the cell

35
Q

T/F transmitter gases can diffuse through the membrane

A

true

36
Q

Transmitter gases bind to

A

Intracellular receptors

37
Q

Transmitter gases support _____ processes

A

metabolic

38
Q

Transmitter gases act as a _______ transmitter

A

retrograde

39
Q

Cells producing amino acid transmitters are found in the

A

CNS

40
Q

Cells producing amine transmitters are

A

clustered together in distinct nuclei

41
Q

Activating system

A

pathway that coordinates activity through a single neurotransmitter

42
Q

Somatic activating systems

A

Cholinergic: neuron that uses Ach as its main neurotransmitter, excites skeletal muscles to cause contractions
-Nicotinic Ach receptor: ionotropic receptor (responsive to nicotine)

43
Q

Autonomic activating sytems

A

-cholinergic neurons from the CNS control both divisions (sympathetic and parasympathetic)
-Both NE and ACh have excitatory effects on some organs and inhibitory effects on others

44
Q

Cholinergic system (CNS)

A

-Ach is produced in nuclei in midbrain and basal forebrain
-nicotinic ach receptor and muscarinic ach receptor (responsive to muscarine
-system projects throughout the cortex
-function: attention, memory, maintaining neuronal excitability
-dysfunction: Alzheimer’s

45
Q

Alzheimer’s is linked to

A

decreased ach synthesis

46
Q

How is Alzheimer’s treated

A

acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

47
Q

Dopaminergic system (CNS)

A
  1. mesostriatal
    -originates in substantia nigra
    -projects to striatum (caudate and putamen)
    -function is to maintain motor behavior
    -dysfunction: Parkinson’s disease
  2. Mesolimbocortical
    -originates ventral tegmentum
    -projects to nucleus accumbens, basal forebrain, frontal cortex
    -function: reward, motivation, learning, addiction
    -Dysfunction: Increase DA- schizophrenia
    Decrease- ADHD
48
Q

How is parkinson’s treated and why

A

L-dopa because it is the precursor to dopamine and L-dopa can cross through the blood-brain barrier, while dopamine can not (it is too large)

49
Q

Noradrenergic system (CNS)

A

-norepinephrine is released from locus coeruleus (pons <3) and lateral tegmental system (midbrain)
-function: mood, behavior, arousal, sexual behavior
-Dysfunction: decreased NE- major depression
Increased NE: mania

50
Q

Seretonergic system

A

-originate in raphae nuclei
-projects throughout brain
-function:mood, sleep, digestion
-dysfunction: Increase 5-HT: OCD
Decrease 5-HT: Depression

51
Q

Amine transmitters

A

Synthesized from dietary nutrients and packaged ready for use in axon terminals

52
Q

Quarternary amines

A

Acetylcholine

53
Q

Acetylcholine synthesis

A

Acetate + Choline
two important enzymes: Acetyl coenzyme A, Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)

54
Q

What enzyme breaks down acetylcholine?

A

Acetylcholinesterace

55
Q

Nicotinic ACh receptors

A

ionotropic
non-selective cation channel, will let any positively charged ion flow through
are found at the synapses on muscles and in autonomic ganglia

56
Q

ACh agonists

A

nicotine and muscarine

57
Q

ACh antagonists

A

block ACh receptors
leave you paralyzed

Ex. snake venom

58
Q

Catecholamines

A

dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine

59
Q

Rate- limiting factor

A

Tyrosine hydroxylase
restricts the rate at which all the catecholamines can be synthesized

Intro to Neuroscience (14 decks)

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