Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Neuropharmocology > Lecture 8: Catecholamines 2 > Flashcards

Lecture 8: Catecholamines 2 Flashcards

1
Q

What other catecholamine is norepinephrine similar too?

A

Dopamine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How are catecholamines are loaded into synaptic vesicles?

A

vesicular monoamine transporters (VMAT)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What psychostimulants cause release of catecholamines without nerve firing?

A

amphetamine and methamphetamine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What happens to catecholamines after release?

A

They are recycled by a process of reuptake

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What happens in NE reuptake?

A

NE transporters return the transmitters to the releasing cell for breakdown or repackaging into vesicles.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What cells participate in uptake?

A

Postsynaptic cell or glial cells by non-selective transporters.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What do transporter-blocking drugs do for DA or NE?

A

Enhance transmission by increasing the amount of neurotransmitter available.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What does Ritalin do?

A

Ritalin blocks the norepinephrine transporter (NET), which normally reabsorbs NE from the synaptic cleft.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What happens to the extracellular levels of NE with Ritalin?

A

Leads to higher levels of extracellular NE, enhancing adrenergic signaling.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are symptoms of increased NE?

A

Increased alertness, attention, and reaction speed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What part of the brain is crucial for focus, impulse control, and working memory?

A

The prefrontal cortex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does increasing NE (and DA) levels in the PFC do?

A

Ritalin helps ADHD patients sustain attention and regulate emotions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is propranolol and what does it do?

A

β-antagonist; treats hypertension by blocking β-receptors in the heart, reducing its contractile force

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Identify medical conditions or disorders that can be treated with peripherally acting noradrenergic drugs, and name the drugs used for these disorders.

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the organization of the noradrenergic system.

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the function of the noradrenergic system.

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Identify the primary source of forebrain NE.

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the main target areas innervated by noradrenergic fibers?

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are the physiological effects of peripheral NE originating in the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal glands?

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

List the adrenergic receptor subtypes.

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are adrenergic receptor subtypes respective signaling mechanisms?

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Explain the mechanisms by which the noradrenergic system helps regulate anxiety.

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Explain the mechanisms by which the noradrenergic system helps regulate arousal.

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Explain the mechanisms by which the noradrenergic system helps regulate cognition.

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Explain the mechanisms by which the noradrenergic system helps regulate the consolidation of emotional memories.
26
Identify medical conditions or disorders that can be treated with peripherally acting noradrenergic drugs.
27
Name the drugs used for treating symptoms with noradrenergic drugs.
28
How is Ritalin unlike amphetamines?
Ritalin does not trigger the direct release of NE from nerve terminals. Prolongs the action of naturally released NE by preventing its reuptake. This makes its effects more controlled and less likely to cause overstimulation compared to amphetamines.
29
What degrades the NE that diffuses out of the synapse inside the neuron?
Monoamine Oxidase (MAO)
30
What degrades the NE that diffuses out of the synapse in the synaptic cleft and surrounding tissues?
Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT)
31
Where is norepinephrine an important transmitter?
In both the central and peripheral nervous systems
32
Where are NE neurons in the brain located?
In the pons and medulla, especially in the locus coeruleus (LC)
33
What do all neurons in the LC do?
Express the enzyme DBH and synthesize NE
34
Where does the LC send fibers?
To almost all areas of the forebrain – many involved in sensory information processing, also to the cerebellum and spinal cord.
35
About how many receptors in humans are for norepinephrine?
~50,000 out of ~86 billion!
36
What else to the fibers from the LC do?
extends to nearly all the forebrain, provides almost all NE input to cortex, limbic system, thalamus and hypothalamus (also to spinal cord and cerebellum)
37
What is Dexmedetomidine (Precedex)?
α2-agonist with combined sedative, anxiolytic, and analgesic effects
38
What is Isoproterenol (Isuprel)?
β-receptor agonist; treats bradycardia
39
What is Yohimbine (Yocon)?
α2-antagonist; treats male sexual impotence
40
What is Prazosin (Minipress)?
α1-antagonist; treats hypertension by dilating blood vessels
41
What is the benefit of metoprolol (Lopressor) and other β1-selective antagonists?
fewer side effects
42
What are Midodrine (ProAmatine) and metaraminol (Aramine)?
α1-agonists; treat hypotension
43
What is Propranolol and other β-antagonists (beta blockers) also used to treat?
generalized anxiety disorder
44
What does NE released from the LC fibers do?
acts on adrenergic receptors located in the central nervous system or in peripheral target organs
45
Identify NE in the PNS.
neurons that have cell bodies in ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system use NE
46
What does NE function as? And what does that allow it to do?
a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands; thus NE can reach organs in two ways
47
How do two types of NE and one type of EPI work together?
Bloodborne NE and EPI work with NE released from sympathetic nerve endings to mediate the “fight-or-flight” response
48
How do norepinephrine and epinephrine act?
through α- and β-adrenergic receptors
49
What type of receptors are Adrenergic receptors (adrenoceptors)?
metabotropic
50
What do β1- and β2- receptors do?
stimulate adenylyl cyclase and enhance formation of cAMP.
51
What do α2-receptors do?
inhibit adenylylcyclase and reduce the rate of cAMP synthesis; also increase opening of K+ channels
52
What do α1 receptors use?
The phosphoinositide second-messenger system
53
What symptoms can α2-agonists such as clonidine (Catapres) and lofexidine (Lucemyra) treat?
symptoms of opioid withdrawal by stimulating α2-autoreceptors to inhibit noradrenergic cell firing
54
What does the α2-antagonist yohimbine do and what does it lead to?
Blocks the autoreceptors, increasing noradrenergic cell firing and NE release; provokes withdrawal symptoms and drug craving
55
What can NE promote?
feelings of anxiety: tested with human-sized elevated plus maze
56
What plays a significant role in arousal, cognition, and the consolidation of emotional memories?
The central noradrenergic
57
What mechanisms surround arousal?
Arousal: LC neurons fire more rapidly during waking than during sleep, and trigger arousal
58
What does the α1-receptor agonist phenylephrine do?
Injected into the lateral hypothalamic area increased awake time in rats.
59
What does the β-receptor agonist isoproterenol do on its own and with phenylephrine?
Had less effect; together they had an additive effect
60
What part of the brain does the LC also project to? What happens?
the PFC, which expresses α1-, α2-, and β-receptors; facilitates cognition
61
What does nn α2-receptor agonist such as clonidine or guanfacine do?
Enhances working memory; activation of α1-receptors (lower affinity) decreases cognitive functions
62
When does optimal cognitive function occur?
at moderate amounts of NE release
63
How does α1 activation differ from a2?
has deleterious effects on cognitive function
64
How can NE be regulated?
Receptor affinity; NE has lower affinity for α1 than α2
65
What leads to optimal working memory?
Non-stressful conditions, activation of α2.
66
What happens in high stress?
α1 overrides the beneficial effects of α2
67
What is stress associated with?
one-trial passive avoidance learning produces increased EPI and glucocorticoid secretion from the adrenal glands plus activation of LC neurons and increased release of NE
68
What is a key brain structure that also plays a role in other types of fear conditioning.
basolateral amygdala (BLA)
69
How is Asthma and COPD treated in the PNS?
with β2-adrenoceptor agonists including albuterol (Ventolin) and levalbuterol (Xopenex)
70
What is an ingredient in OTC decongestant medications and what does it do?
The α1-receptor agonist phenylephrine– constricts blood vessels
71
What do α2-receptor agonists such as clonidine treat?
Hypertension by inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system while stimulating the parasympathetic system.

Neuropharmocology (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions