Chemical Communication

Question 1

Criteria of a Neurotransmitter

Answer 1

Must be locally synthesized 
Must be released by pre-synaptic sites
Acts on post synaptic receptor
Can be released exogenously 
Must have a mechanism to terminate it

Question 2

Paracrine

Answer 2

Locally
Within a tissue
Target cells, specific receptors

Question 3

Endocrine

Answer 3

Into blood stream
Whole body
Target cells, specific receptors

Question 4

Synaptic

Answer 4

Focally

Onto specific neurons

Question 5

Ligand-gated channel

Answer 5

Change in membrane potential

Fast, short lived

Question 6

G-coupled receptor (metabotropic)

Answer 6

Change in membrane potential
Slow, can be long lasting
Amplification, even change in gene expression

Question 7

Glutamate Synthesis/Transport

Answer 7

• Formed from Glutamine by glutaminase
• Packed by VGLUT into vesicals
• Taken by up or by glial cells and synthesized into glutamine

Question 8

Glutamate Receptors

Answer 8

-Ionotropic (Excitatory, Non-selective ion channels)
NMDA (allows calcium to enter cell)
AMPA
Kainate
-Metabotropic
mGluRs (activate G-Proteins)

Question 9

GABA Sythesis/Transport

Answer 9

• Formed from Glutamate by GAD (requires B6)
• Transported into vesicles by VIAAT transporters
• Taken back up or by glial cells and metabolized back into Glutamate and synthesized into glutamine

Question 10

GABA receptors

Answer 10

GABAa- Ionotropic receptor that when bound by GABA causes an inhibitory response by releasing Cl- out of the cell
GABAb-Metabotropic receptors that, when activated, activate G-Proteins that cause a change in K+ concentration, hyperpolarizing the cell

Question 11

Acetylcholine Synthesis

Answer 11

Synthesized by Acetyl-Coa and Choline by Choline-Acetyl transferase

Question 12

Acetylcholine functions

Answer 12

Activation of many brain regions (Basal Ganglia, Thalmus, Hippocampus)
Learning and memory
Associated with Alzheimer’s disease

Question 13

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Answer 13

• Mostly Ionotropic and Excitatory
• Can be blocked by Curare
• At synapses between neurons and skeletal muscle

Question 14

Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Answer 14

• Metabotropic and can be either Inhibitory or Excitatory

- Can be blocked by drugs such as atropine and scopolamine

Question 15

Organophosphates

Answer 15

Compounds that can break down acetylcholinesterases which can result in increased levels of acetylcholine in the neural synapse. Include insecticides like DDT and chemical agents like Sarin