Peripheral nerve transmission L4 Flashcards
(102 cards)
what neurotrasmitter do most postganglionic nerves release?
NA.

is adr a neurotransmitter?
not really - more of a horemone
Adr is made in the adrenal gland and acts as a circulating hormone rather than as a neurotransmitter in the periphery and it is effectively the N-methylated version of NA.
where is Adr preduced?
This methylation takes place in the chromaffin cells of adrenal medulla in presence of the enzyme PNMT (phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase).
what is isoprenaline?
synthetic derivertive of NA
often used experimentally
Noradrenaline (NA)
released from ________ nerve terminals (except sweat gland), also in some tracts of the CNS
Noradrenaline (NA)
released from sympathetic nerve terminals (except sweat gland), also in some tracts of the CNS
Adrenaline (Adr)
the main hormone secreted by ______ medullae
Adrenaline (Adr)
the main hormone secreted by adrenal medullae
Dopamine (DA)
precursor of ___&_____; also
a transmitter/neuromodulator in the central nervous system
Dopamine (DA)
precursor of NA & Adr; also
a transmitter/neuromodulator in the central nervous system
catecholamine biosynthesis


The starting material for catecholamine biosynthesis is….
The starting material for catecholamine biosynthesis is L-tyrosine
what is the rate limiting step in the catecholamine biosynthesis.
L-tyrosine which is present in body fluid and taken up from the circulation by catecholaminergic nerves and converted into DOPA (dihydroxyphenylalanine) by tyrosine hydroxylase (TOH).
1st step
which intermediate in the syntehsis of catecholamines is laoded into vesicels?
Dopamine - loaded using vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT) - the process is driven by the transvesicular proton gradient.
Within these vesicles, DA is hydroxylated at its b carbon to form NA and this is catalyzed by dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH). DBH is exclusively present ………
What is DBH an idicator of?
Within these vesicles, DA is hydroxylated at its b carbon to form NA and this is catalyzed by dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH). DBH is exclusively present within the noradrenergic nerves and a small amount of DBH is also co-released with NA release. Unlike NA, the released DBH is not rapidly degraded or susceptible to any uptake mechanism, so its concentration in plasma and body fluids can be used as an index of overall sympathetic nerve activity.


Therefore____ is used to boost DA synthesis in the Parkinsonian brain
Therefore L-DOPA is used to boost DA synthesis in the Parkinsonian brain
as well as L-DOPA - what is often given along side to parkinson patients to ease symptoms
alot of the L_DOPA is taken up by the periphery - leading to side effecst.
carbidopa is given as well - cannot cross BBB so doesnt inhibit substantia nigra cells
but modulates peripheral sideeffects
whta is disulfiram used to treat
alcohol dependance becasue its also good at inhibiting aldehyde dehydrogenase (not to do with catecholamine syntehsis
which enzymes in catecholamine syntehsis are selective?
TOH is selective.
DDC and DBH are not particularly slecetive
how is α-Methyldopa used?
α-Methyldopa is taken into noradrenergic nerve terminals and converted successively into α-methyldopamine (α-methyl DA), and α-methylnoradrenaline (α-methyl NA), respectively. α-methyl NA is stored within the synaptic vesicles and released with (or in place of) NA as a false transmitter
it is preferentially functional
α-methyl NA adrenoreceptor binding characteristics?
less active at α1 adrenoceptors and more selective towards α2 adrenoceptors like another drug clonidine
Both α-methylnoradrenaline and clonidine cause a fall in blood pressure……. why?
Both α-methylnoradrenaline and clonidine cause a fall in blood pressure, partly by inhibition of NA release (through stimulating presynaptic α2 adrenoreceptors, see later) and partly by a central action.
- NA is stored with ATP in ____–core vesicles
- NA, ATP & usually NPY are present in _____-core vesicles
- NA is stored with ATP in clear-core vesicles neuropeptide Y .
- NA, ATP & usually NPY are present in dense-core vesicles
how is NA loaded into vescileds?
NA is stored with ATP.
NA (and DA) accumulates into these vesicle by the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2, a member of the SLC protein superfamily) which uses the trans-vesicular H+ gradient as its energy source (two H+ are extruded for each amine molecule taken into the vesicle), The H+ gradient is set up by an ATP-dependent proton pump (a v-ATPase).
where is VMAT1 found?
non neural tissues - chromaffin cells and few others in the GI trcat
what does reserpine do?
- binds irreversibly to VMAT2, blocking NA uptake into new vesicles
- leads to long lasting NA depletion
- new vesciles synthesis required










