MT 2 Flashcards
in the war of the soups and sparks who won?
soups
the “soups” (chemical transmission) side ultimately won against the “sparks” (electrical transmission) theory
what is the soups vs. sparks debate
a historical debate about whether nerve impulses are conducted chemically or electrically at the synapse
describe neurotransmitters
- released by neurons into synaptic cleft
- excitatory or inhibitory effect on adjacent post-synaptic cell
describe neuromodulators
- released ny neurons in larger amounts than NTs
- diffuses further than adjacent synaptic cleft
- affects genera; behavior (vigilance, arousal, pain, sensitivity)
- often neuropeptides (protein-like molecules)
describe hormones
- secreted by endocrine glands into extracellular fluid
- bloodstream transports to rest of body
- calls must have hormone receptor to be affected
- affects reproduction, growth, homeostasis (urine production, hunger, temp. regulation, etc.)
autoreceptor
on the presynaptic cell
prevents buildup of NT in synaptic cleft
they slow down NT release from the presynaptic cell when there is already an overabundance of NT in the synaptic cleft
drug / toxin effects on neurotransmission
positive regulation of neurotransmitter or negative regulation of neurotransmitter. can happen in presynaptic neuron or within synaptic cleft.
positive regulation of NT within presynaptic
- NT synthesis
- uptake into vessicle
- exocytosis
positive regulation of NT within synaptic cleft neuron
- diffusion in synaptic cleft
- postsynaptic receptor binding
negative regulation of NT within presynaptic neuron
- NT degradation
negative regulation of NT within synaptic cleft
- NT degradation
- reuptake
- autoreceptor binding
agonists
can facilitate positive regulatory effects of NT or inhibit negative regulatory effects of NT
i.e., a drug that facilitates the effects of the NT on the postsynaptic cell
antagonists
can inhibit positive regulatory effects of NT or facilitate negative regulatory effects of NT
i.e., a drug that decreases the effects of the NT on the postsynaptic cell
receptor-binding compounds (ligands)
ligand - any chemical that binds to the binding site
- they are direct agonists (they work directly on receptor protein)
- NTs
- drugs (medicinal and illicit) and poisons
- direct antagonists (receptor blockers)
- drugs (medicinal and illicit) and poisons
T/F - a drug that acts to speed up reuptake would be considered an antagonist
True
T/F - a drug that causes synaptic vesicles in the presynaptic neuron to leak inhibitory NT molecules into the intracellular fluid would be considered an antagonist
True
amino acids
some of the building blocks of proteins (i.e, glutamate, gaba, glycerine
amines
modified amino acides
- acetylcholine
- dopamine
- closely related to epinephrine (adrenaline, a hormone)
- serotonin
peptides
short chain of amino accids
endongenous opiodids
lipids
nucleosides
gases
gultamate
- receptors are widesspread in CNS
- most abundant excitatory NT
- excessive amounts = death
- increases activity in neural circuits
gaba
- receptors are widespread in CNS
- most abundant inhibitory NT
- decrease activity in neural circuits