Transcript NEUROTRANSMITTERS - University of Kansas Medical Center
NEUROTRANSMITTERS
Classic Characteristics:
Synthesized in the neuron.
Become localized in presynaptic terminal.
Bind to receptor site on postsynaptic membrane.
Removed by a specific mechanism from its specific site of action.
Classification
Small molecule transmitters: Amino acids: Dietary amino acids.
GABA Monoamines: Catecholamines.
Indoleamines.
Acetylcholine.
Amino Acids
Dietary: Aspartate.
Glycine.
Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA): From decarboxylation of glutamate.
Monoamines
Catecholamines: Derived from tyrosine.
Include: Dopamine.
Norepinephrine.
Epinephrine.
Monoamines
Indoleamine: Derived from tryptophan.
Includes: Serotonin.
Glutamate
Most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS.
Synthesized in mitochondria.
Inactivated by reuptake: Via nerve terminals.
Via astrocytes: Convert glutamate back to glutamine.
May resupply nerve terminal.
Glutamate
Found in: Cerebral cortex.
Striatum.
Dentate gyrus (hippocampus).
Cerebellum.
Spinal cord.
Excitatory influences on basal nuclei.
Aspartate
Found throughout brain and spinal cord.
Effects are usually excitatory.
Glycine
Common inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Increases chloride conductance in postsynaptic membrane.
Blocked by strychnine.
Converted from serine.
Inactivated by reuptake.
Glycine
Found in: Interneurons of spinal cord: Renshaw cells.
Neurons of subthalamic nuclei projecting to globus pallidus.
GABA
Gamma aminobutyric acid: Most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in CNS.
Increases chloride conductance.
Inactivated via reuptake: Into nerve terminals.
Into glial cells.
GABA
Site of action of anxiolytic drugs such as Valium and Librium.
Inhibited by penicillin: Causes over-excitation and seizure activity in brain.
GABA
Found in: Granule cells of olfactory bulbs.
Amacrine cells of retina.
Purkinje cells and basket cells of cerebellum.
Hippocampus.
Basal ganglia.
Numerous interneurons.
GABA
GABAergic neurons of caudate nucleus and putamen project to substantia nigra and globus pallidus.
Reduced concentrations in patients with Huntington’s chorea: May contribute to presence of uncontrolled involuntary movements.
Dopamine
Usually inhibitory.
Present in neurons of substantia nigra: Nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway projects to putamen and caudate nucleus.
Loss of inhibitory influences may be associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Dopamine
Other pathways project to limbic system components: Malfunctioning may be associated with schizophrenia.
Dopamine
Also found in: Neurons from hypothalamus to hypophysis.
Retina: Role in lateral inhibition (focusing effect).
Olfactory bulb.
Norepinphrine
Usually inhibitory.
May be released into neuropile from axon varicosities filled with vesicles.
90 percent do not form synapses.
Accounts for slow-acting and long-lasting effects following release.
May enhance neuropile neuronal activity via lateral inhibition.
Norepinphrine
Inactivation: Reuptake into synaptic terminal.
Uptake by effector cells (with MAO and COMT).
Diffusion away from site.
Norepinphrine
Inactivation: Destruction: MAO: COMT: Monoamine oxidase.
Intracellular.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase.
Extracelluar.
Norepinphrine
Found in: Locus ceruleus and Lateral tegmental nuclei.
Neurons to: Midbrain tectum.
Thalamus, hypothalamus Cerebral cortex, Cerebellar cortex Medulla and spinal cord Most postsynaptic sympathetic neurons.
Norepinphrine Functions
Modulator – sets brain tone.
Suppresses irrelevant stimuli.
Enhances relevant stimuli.
Modifies behavior, arousal, degree of alertness, ECG activity and sleep.
Role in mood, memory.
Hormone regulation and homeostasis.
Norepinephrine Receptors
Alpha adrenergic receptors Beta adrenergic receptors: Involve G-proteins and adenyl cyclase activation.
Epinephrine
Usually excitatory.
Found in neurons of: Lower brainstem tegmentum.
Locus ceruleus.
Axons projecting rostrally to hypothalamus.
Axons projecting to intermediolateral cell column of spinal cord (preganglionic sympathetic neurons located here.)
Serotonin
Only present in cell bodies of neurons located primarily in the raphe and reticular formation (limited) of brainstem.
Inactivated by MAO.
Serotonin
Axons project to: Diencephalon.
Striatum.
Cerebral cortex.
Ependyma of ventricles.
Cerebellum.
Spinal nucleus of CN V
Serotonin Functions (?)
Inducing sleep.
Pain transmission.
Certain psychotic disorders: Depression.
Total amnesia may occur when: Raphe neurons are destroyed.
Serotonin stores are depleted by reserpine.
Acetylcholine
Choline is made in liver, not brain.
Synthesized by choline acetyltransferase: Synthesized within neuron cell body.
Degraded by acetylcholinesterase: Synthesized within neuron cell body.
Acetylcholine
Found in neurons: Lower alpha and gamma motor neurons.
All ANS preganglionic neurons.
All parasympathetic postganglionic neurons.
Sympathetic postganglionic neurons innervating sweat glands.
Acetylcholine
Found in brain: Basal nucleus of Meynert: Axons project to cerebral cortex.
Alterations in these neurons may be associated with Alzheimer’s.
Interneurons within striatum: Loss of these seems to be a main feature of Huntington’s.
Associated with limbic system.
Cholinergic Receptors
Nicotinic: Found in spinal cord and superior colliculi.
Activate mainly sodium channels (EPSP).
Found in neuromyal junctions.
Found in autonomic ganglia.
Blocked by curare.
Cholinergic Receptors
Muscarinic: Predominant cholinergic receptors in brain.
Principal cholinergic receptor on ANS target organs.
Coupled to G-proteins.
Blocked by atropine.
Nitric Oxide
Neuroactive Peptides
Opioid peptides: Include: Endorphins.
Dynorphins.
Enkephalins.
Present in pain pathways.
Present in limbic circuits.
Present in reticular formation (enkephalins).
Neuroactive Peptides
Hormones: Vasopressin (ADH).
Oxytocin.
Neuroactive Peptides
Somatostatin.
Tachykinins:
Substance P: Excitatory transmitter in CNS and intestinal tract.
Associated with pain pathways.
High concentration in substantia nigra.
Decreased in Huntington’s patients.
Neuroactive Peptides
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) Cholecystokinin octapeptide