Neurotransmitters

Question 1

The ______ is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Answer 1

Glutamate

Question 2

The ______ is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.

Answer 2

GABA

Question 3

The ______ receptors are ionotropic receptors activated by glutamate and glycine, allowing Na+ and Ca2+ influx.

Answer 3

NMDA

Question 4

The ______ receptor subtype is responsible for fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials.

Answer 4

AMPA

Question 5

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) can be classified into groups based on their signaling: Group I is ______, while Group II and III are ______.

Answer 5

excitatory, inhibitory

Question 6

______ transporters remove glutamate from the synaptic cleft to maintain neurotransmitter balance.

Answer 6

EAAT

Question 7

The balance between ______ and ______ is crucial for maintaining proper excitation and inhibition in the brain.

Answer 7

Glutamate, GABA

Question 8

The ______ receptor is a pentameric structure that, when activated, allows Cl- ions to enter the cell, causing inhibition.

Answer 8

GABA-A

Question 9

The ______ receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor that inhibits Ca2+ channels and activates K+ channels.

Answer 9

GABA-B

Question 10

Benzodiazepines bind to the ______ receptor to enhance the effects of GABA.

Answer 10

GABA-A

Question 11

The precursor to dopamine is ______, which crosses the blood-brain barrier.

Answer 11

L-DOPA

Question 12

Dopamine plays a key role in ______, ______, and ______.

Answer 12

motor control, reward, motivation

Question 13

The four major dopamine pathways are ______, ______, ______, and ______.

Answer 13

mesolimbic, mesocortical, nigrostriatal, tuberoinfundibular

Question 14

The ______ pathway is involved in reward and motivation, projecting from the VTA to the nucleus accumbens.

Answer 14

Mesolimbic

Question 15

Dopamine receptors can be classified into two families: the ______ family (Gs-coupled) and the ______ family (Gi-coupled).

Answer 15

D1, D2

Question 16

The ______ receptor family includes D1 and D5 receptors, which increase cAMP levels.

Answer 16

D1

Question 17

The ______ receptor family includes D2, D3, and D4 receptors, which decrease cAMP levels.

Answer 17

D2

Question 18

The main enzymes that degrade dopamine are ______ and ______.

Answer 18

MAO, COMT

Question 19

Serotonin is synthesized from the amino acid ______.

Answer 19

Tryptophan

Question 20

The major breakdown product of serotonin is ______.

Answer 20

5-HIAA

Question 21

Serotonin receptors are classified into multiple subtypes; 5-HT1 receptors are ______, while 5-HT2 receptors are ______.

Answer 21

inhibitory, excitatory

Question 22

The ______ system is primarily involved in mood, sleep, appetite, and pain.

Answer 22

Serotonin

Question 23

The cell bodies of serotonin-producing neurons are located in the ______ nuclei.

Answer 23

Raphe

Question 24

Drugs that inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, such as ______, are commonly used as antidepressants.

Answer 24

SSRIs

Question 25

Norepinephrine is primarily synthesized in the ______ and is involved in alertness and the fight-or-flight response.

Answer 25

Locus coeruleus

Question 26

The major adrenergic receptors are classified into ______, ______, and ______ receptors.

Answer 26

alpha-1, alpha-2, beta

Question 27

Alpha-1 adrenergic receptors are ______, while alpha-2 receptors are ______.

Answer 27

excitatory, inhibitory

Question 28

The ______ system controls functions such as heart rate, arousal, and blood pressure through norepinephrine.

Answer 28

Sympathetic nervous

Question 29

Acetylcholine is synthesized from ______ and acetyl-CoA.

Answer 29

Choline

Question 30

The two major types of acetylcholine receptors are ______ and ______.

Answer 30

nicotinic, muscarinic

Question 31

______ receptors are ionotropic and mediate fast synaptic transmission in the neuromuscular junction.

Answer 31

Nicotinic

Question 32

______ receptors are G-protein coupled and are involved in parasympathetic nervous system functions.

Answer 32

Muscarinic

Question 33

The ______ is a brain region where cholinergic neurons are involved in memory and learning.

Answer 33

Basal forebrain

Question 34

Histamine is synthesized from the amino acid ______.

Answer 34

Histidine

Question 35

Histamine plays a role in arousal and wakefulness through activation of ______ receptors.

Answer 35

H1

Question 36

The H3 histamine receptor functions as an ______ receptor, regulating the release of histamine.

Answer 36

Autoreceptor

Question 37

Histaminergic neurons are located primarily in the ______ nucleus of the hypothalamus.

Answer 37

Tuberomammillary

Question 38

Endogenous opioids bind to ______ receptors, which are G-protein coupled and primarily inhibitory.

Answer 38

Mu, delta, kappa

Question 39

The ______ receptor is responsible for most of the analgesic effects of opioids.

Answer 39

Mu

Question 40

Opioid peptides such as ______ and ______ are naturally occurring ligands for opioid receptors.

Answer 40

Endorphins, enkephalins

Question 41

The ______ system is involved in pain modulation, reward, and addiction.

Answer 41

Opioidergic

Question 42

A ______ agonist mimics the action of a neurotransmitter by binding to the same receptor.

Answer 42

Direct

Question 43

A ______ antagonist blocks the action of a neurotransmitter by binding to its receptor.

Answer 43

Competitive

Question 44

A ______ modulator binds to a site on a receptor distinct from the agonist binding site, influencing receptor activity.

Answer 44

Allosteric

Question 45

The breakdown of neurotransmitters by enzymes such as MAO and COMT is an example of ______.

Answer 45

Catabolism

Question 46

The reuptake of neurotransmitters into presynaptic neurons is mediated by ______ transporters.

Answer 46

Plasma membrane

Question 47

______ channels open in response to a change in membrane potential and are crucial for action potential propagation.

Answer 47

Voltage-gated

Question 48

Ligand-gated ion channels, such as ______, open in response to the binding of neurotransmitters.

Answer 48

Ionotropic receptors

Question 49

The ______ receptor is a G-protein-coupled receptor involved in dopamine transmission, reducing cAMP levels.

Answer 49

D2

Question 50

The ______ receptor subtype mediates the fast excitatory action of glutamate in the brain.

Answer 50

AMPA

Question 51

Activation of the ______ receptor by acetylcholine causes skeletal muscle contraction.

Answer 51

Nicotinic

Question 52

The ______ receptor subtype is involved in slow excitatory postsynaptic potentials mediated by glutamate.

Answer 52

NMDA

Question 53

Blocking the ______ receptor prevents dopamine from exerting its effects on reward and motivation.

Answer 53

D2

Question 54

The precursor to serotonin is the amino acid ______.

Answer 54

Tryptophan

Question 55

______ is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that opens Cl- channels to reduce neuronal excitability.

Answer 55

GABA

Question 56

Glutamate is converted into ______ in glial cells, which is then transported back to neurons.

Answer 56

Glutamine

Question 57

Serotonin is broken down by the enzyme ______ in presynaptic neurons.

Answer 57

Monoamine oxidase (MAO)

Question 58

The ______ receptor binds to norepinephrine and mediates vasoconstriction in blood vessels.

Answer 58

Alpha-1

Question 59

The ______ receptor is an inhibitory autoreceptor that decreases norepinephrine release.

Answer 59

Alpha-2

Question 60

The ______ receptor is primarily found in the heart and increases heart rate when activated.

Answer 60

Beta-1

Question 61

______ are G-protein coupled receptors that bind endogenous opioids like enkephalins and endorphins.

Answer 61

Opioid receptors

Question 62

______ is a dopamine precursor that can be administered to patients with Parkinson's disease.

Answer 62

L-DOPA

Question 63

The ______ nucleus in the hypothalamus is the primary source of histamine in the brain.

Answer 63

Tuberomammillary

Question 64

______ transporters remove GABA from the synaptic cleft to terminate its inhibitory effects.

Answer 64

GABA transporters (GAT)

Question 65

The enzyme ______ is responsible for breaking down acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft.

Answer 65

Acetylcholinesterase

Question 66

The ______ system controls involuntary functions like digestion and heart rate through acetylcholine release.

Answer 66

Parasympathetic

Question 67

The ______ neurotransmitter system is involved in regulating mood, sleep, and appetite.

Answer 67

Serotonin

Question 68

The neurotransmitter ______ is involved in pain suppression, and its receptors are targeted by opioids.

Answer 68

Endorphin

Question 69

The ______ receptor subtype is primarily involved in inhibitory neurotransmission via chloride ion channels.

Answer 69

GABA-A

Question 70

Increased levels of the neurotransmitter ______ are associated with schizophrenia.

Answer 70

Dopamine

Question 71

______ is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the regulation of body temperature, sleep, and appetite.

Answer 71

Serotonin

Question 72

The ______ receptors are located on the postsynaptic membrane and mediate excitatory neurotransmission.

Answer 72

Ionotropic

Question 73

The enzyme ______ is involved in the catabolism of catecholamines like dopamine and norepinephrine.

Answer 73

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)