neuropharm basics

Question 1

excess glutamate can lead to?

Answer 1

excitotoxicity (ALS, AD, neuropathic pain)

Question 2

glutamate ionotropic or metabotropic?

Answer 2

both

Question 3

glutamate secreted by

Answer 3

pyramidal cells

Question 4

three important types of ionotropic glutamate receptors

Answer 4

• NMDA
• AMPA
• Kainate

Question 5

name two NMDA receptor antagonists

Answer 5

• PCP

- ketamine

Question 6

explain the regulation of the NMDA receptor

Answer 6

• needs glycine as a co-agonist
• modulated by Zn and polyamines
• blocked by Mg at RMP
• Ca permeability, acts as messenger

Question 7

explain metabotropic glutamate receptors

Answer 7

• groups I-III
• act through G protein coupled receptors
• regulate Ca or adenyl cyclase in cell

Question 8

GABA synthesis

Answer 8

from glutamate by GAD

Question 9

important drugs that work through GABA receptors

Answer 9

• benzos
• barbiturates
• alcohol
• general anesthetics

Question 10

important features of GABA-a receptors

Answer 10

• ionotropic
• a-subunit opens Cl channel
• hyperpolarization

Question 11

features of GABA-b receptors

Answer 11

• metabotropic (G protein coupled channel)
• opens K
• closes Ca
• efflux of K causes hyper polarization

Question 12

features of GABA-c receptors

Answer 12

• ionotropic
• only one type of subunit
• opens Cl channels
• expression in retinal, spinal cord, pituitary
• not modulated by benzos etc.

Question 13

major subcategories of monoamines

Answer 13

• serotonin
• catecholamines
• histamine
• tryptamines (5-HT and melatonin)

Question 14

dopamine (DA) where made and what involved in?

Answer 14

• ventral tegmental area and substantial nigra

- behavior, cognition, movement, motivation, reward, addiction

Question 15

dopamine receptors types

Answer 15

D1 and D5 - increase adenylyl cyclase - excitatory

D2-4 - increase phosphodiesterase - inhibitory

Question 16

what’s the difference between metabotropic and ionotropic receptors?

Answer 16

• ionotropic - opening of ion channel

- metabotropic - secondary messengers, metabolic pathways, g-proteins

Question 17

inhibitory and excitatory amino acid NTs

Answer 17

excitatory - glutamate, aspartate

inhibitory - GABA, glycine

Question 18

nicotinic vs muscarinic receptors

Answer 18

nicotinic - ionotropic
muscarinic - metabotropic

both ACh receptors