Neurochemistry
Neurochemistry
Neurochemistry
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Dopamine is implicated in both schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. Glutamate is implicated in many
neurodegenerative disorders while GABA is implicated in epilepsy. Both noradrenaline and serotonin are
relevant for depression and anxiety. Acetylcholine is more relevant than dopamine for Alzheimer's
dementia. Please note that the explanation here is an over-simplification - most neuropsychiatric disorders
include a generalised disturbance in multiple neurotransmission systems.
The correct answer is: Dopamine - Alzheimer's dementia
Kappa receptors
Sigma receptors
Delta receptors
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The general role of the endogenous opioids includes the regulation of pain (supraspinal and spinal
analgesia), anxiety, and memory.
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Decarboxylase
Oxidase
Hydroxylase
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Reduced GABA, Reduced glutamic acid decarboxylase, reduced acetyl choline, reduced substance P,
Raised somatostatin and reduced corticotrophin releasing factor are seen in Huntington's disease.
The correct answer is: GABA
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There are four main types of excitatory amino acid receptors; N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA), amino-3
hydroxy 5-methyl 4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA), kainate and Metabotropic (G-protein coupled receptors).
Ketamine is a non-competitive antagonist at NMDA receptors. Glutamate is the major excitatory
neurotransmitter with a wide distribution in the brain. There is a possible link between the glutamate
receptor activation and long-term potentiation in the hippocampus as the physiological substrate of memory.
Glutamate transmission has been postulated to have a link with psychosis. Excess glutamate via NMDA
mediated, calcium-dependent excitotoxicity can result in neuronal damage
The correct answer is: Ketamine is a selective agonist at NMDA receptors
Heroin
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Many hallucinogens occur naturally in 'magic mushrooms', datura or 'angel's trumpet' (atropine-like effects),
mescaline and DMT (dimethyltryptamine). Magic mushrooms contain two hallucinogenic substances:
psilocin and psilocybin. Psilocybin gets converted to psilocin and acts similar to LSD, although it is about
100 times less potent than the synthetic LSD itself. The most popular hallucinogen in current use is the
synthetic drug LSD.
The correct answer is: LSD
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Serotonin transmission from the median raphe nuclei provides rich projections to the frontal cortex
The correct answer is: Serotonin
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Alpha1 receptors phospholipase C coupled; Alpha 2 are Gi-coupled(inhibitory). Beta receptors Gs coupled -
so they increase adenylate cyclase.
The correct answer is: Beta adrenergic
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The neurochemical changes in the brain reported in Alzheimers disease would include decreased levels of
acetylcholinesterase (AChE), decreased levels of choline acetyltransferase, decreased GABA levels and
decreased levels of noradrenaline. Acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme that inactivates acetylcholine and thus
inhibits cholinergic neurotransmission, is consistently decreased in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's
dementia. Such a decrease is also seen in the CSF and plasma of these patients. But note that despite this
overall decrease, levels of this enzyme appears to be high in the vicinity of β-amyloid plaques - thus
contributes to amyloidogenesis. Thus AChE Inhibitors are useful to treat this illness.
Ref: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2806824/
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Monoamine Oxidases are a family of enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of monoamines. They are present
on the outer membrane of mitochondria.
The correct answer is: Oxidase
Glucagon
Butyrylcholinesterase
Glutamate
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GABA is one of the most ubiquitous inhibitory neurotransmitters in the CNS, and an estimated 40% of all
brain synapses use it. Within the cerebellum, Purkinje cells produce GABA. GABA projections are found
arising in the striatum, terminating in the substantia nigra and Globus pallidus. Loss of these GABA
neurones in the caudate and putamen occurs in Huntington's chorea. Underactivity of the GABAergic
system would theoretically result in epilepsy and reduction in GABA-BDZ receptors have been
demonstrated in seizure foci.
The correct answer is: Glutamate
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NMDAhas a role in memory acquisition, developmental plasticity, epilepsy, and ischemic brain injury. NMDA
receptor mediates long-term potentiation
The correct answer is: NMDA receptor
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The principal location of noradrenaline is the locus coereleus. The principal location of acetylcholine is in
the cell bodies in the nucleus basalis of Meynert with axons innervating the hippocampus. The neurones
containing 5-HT are located in the midbrain and brain stem median raphe nuclei.
The correct answer is: Locus coereleus
Mesocortical
Nigrostriatal
Tubero infundibular
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All the three are monoamines, but dopamine and noradrenaline are catecholamines while serotonin is an
indolamine.
The correct answer is: Dopamine and noradrenalin
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The biosynthesis of catecholamines starts from the conversion of tyrosine into L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-
DOPA) by tyrosine hydroxylase. L-DOPA is then decarboxylated by DOPA decarboxylase to form
dopamine. The conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine comes about by the action of the enzyme
dopamine ß-hydroxylase. The rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin is tryptophan
hydroxylase. Here, tryptophan is converted to 5-hydroxytryptophan by tryptophan hydroxylase and by 5-
hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase into serotonin. Histidine is the precursor of histamine not serotonin.
The correct answer is: Serotonin-Histidine
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Nicotine is highly lipid soluble and rapidly enters the brain after inhalation (smoking). Nicotine receptors are
found on dopaminergic cell bodies, and stimulation of nicotine receptors leads to release of dopamine
The correct answer is: Dopamine
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Rosenthal fibers appear on H&E stained sections as brightly eosinophilic carrot-shaped or corkscrew-like
structures. Rosenthal fibres are alterations in astrocytic processes and provide a diagnostic signature of
Alexander's leukodystrophy. These distinctive structures are present in association with longstanding gliosis
as is seen around cavities in the CNS, in low grade, discrete astrocytomas such as pilocytic astrocytomas,
and in patients suffering from Alexander's disease. Hirano bodies are oval to elongated rod-shaped,
eosinophilic inclusions, which are few in normal elderly and high in people with Alzheimer's disease.
The correct answer is: Rosenthal fibres
Amphetamine
LSD
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Cathinone is an alkaloid present in the leaves of the khat bush that grows in East Africa and southern
Arabia and is often chewed because of its stimulating properties. Cathinone, which is S(-)-alpha-
aminopropiophenone, has a pharmacological profile closely resembling that of amphetamine; indeed, in a
wide variety of in vitro and in vivo experiments it was demonstrated that cathinone shares the action of
amphetamine on CNS as well as its sympathomimetic effects; thus, for example, drug-conditioned animals
will not distinguish between cathinone and amphetamine. It operates through the same mechanism as
amphetamine; i.e. it acts by releasing catecholamines from presynaptic storage sites. Thus, much
experimental evidence indicates that cathinone is the main psychoactive constituent of the khat leaf and
that, in fact, this alkaloid is a natural amphetamine (Excerpt from Cathinone, a natural amphetamine.
Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1508843).
The correct answer is: Amphetamine
Norepinephrine
Serotonin
Acetylcholine
Dopamine
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Neurotensin
Dopamine
Endorphins
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The important inhibitory amino acids are GABA and glycine. Excitatory amino acids are glutamic acid,
aspartate and homocysteine. Glycine is synthesized primarily from serine by serine trans-hydroxymethylase
and glycerate dehydrogenase, both of which are rate limiting. Glycine acts as a mandatory adjunctive
neurotransmitter for glutamate activity and an independent inhibitory neurotransmitter at its own receptors.
The correct answer is: Glycine
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The GABA-A receptor's structure is typical of most ligand-gated (ionotropic) receptors ['doughnut with a
hole in the centre' or 'rosette' shaped]. It is made up of five protein subunits arranged in a circular fashion.
This channel opens up when GABA binds to the recognition site. Each protein subunit is made of
membrane-spanning aminoacid chains (each traversing the cell membrane four times). A large N-terminal
at the extracellular end mediates GABA-channel interactions. In the middle of the string is a large
intracellular loop of amino acids with four sites where phosphorylation occurs. NMDA is also an ionotropic
receptor with rosette shape.
The correct answer is: NMDA receptors
Flag question
Select one:
AMPA
GABA-B
NMDA
Sigma
Kainate
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Inhibitory interneurons comprise only about 20% of cortical neurons but have influential roles in cortical
maturation, function, and plasticity. NMDA receptors are predominantly located on these GABA
interneurons.
The correct answer is: NMDA
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GABA-A - opens chloride channel; inhibitory - leads to hyperpolarization; made of five subunits and at least
14 subunit subtypes
The correct answer is: GABA-A receptor
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Receptors for neurotransmitters can be either 1. Directly coupled to an ion channel (ionotropic receptors)
and so concerned with fast transmission Eg GABA-A, Nicotinic type of Ach receptors, N-Methyl-D-aspartate
type of glutamate receptors). Glutamate is an example of a fast acting excitatory neurotransmitter where the
receptors (NMDA) are directly linked to a sodium channel. Activation of the GABA-A receptor, which is
linked to a chloride channel, results in an influx of chloride ion into the neurone causing hyper polarisation.
2. Coupled to an intracellular effector system through G-Protein (Metabotropic receptors) and so
responsible for slow neurotransmission (dopamine, nor adrenaline, most 5-HT and muscarinic Ach
receptors).
The correct answer is: Glutamate
5-HT 1 b
5-HT 1a
5-HT 3
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There are fourteen 5HT receptors; all are G-protein coupled apart from 5HT-3, which is a ligand-gated
cation channel. 5HT-1 group (5HT-1a, 5HT-1b, 5-HT-1d) are inhibitory and are negatively coupled to cyclic
AMP. 5HT-2 receptors (5HT-2a,2b,2c) are excitatory and act through the phospholipase C/inositol
phosphate pathway. 5HT-4, 5HT-5,5HT-6,5HT-7 receptors are positively coupled to Cyclic AMP and are
thus excitatory.
The correct answer is: 5-HT 3
Check
Throughout the human body, especially in those cells that produce hormones and other secretory products,
a vast network of membrane-bound vesicles and tubules called the endoplasmic reticulum, or ER is
present. Smooth ER plays different functions depending on the specific cell type including lipid
(incl.phospholipid) and steroid hormone synthesis, breakdown of lipid-soluble toxins in liver cells, and
control of calcium release in muscle cell contraction.
The correct answer is: Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
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Question 28 HiY Neurochemistry 001
Not answered Which one of the following is the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of dopamine?
Check
The rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of dopamine is tyrosine hydroxylase, which converts tyrosine into
L-DOPA. The rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of serotonin is tryptophan hydroxylase. The enzyme,
dopamine ß-hydroxylase, converts dopamine to noradrenaline. Phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase
is involved in the conversion of noradrenaline to epinephrine. Choline acetyltransferase is involved in the
biosynthesis of ACh.
The correct answer is: Tyrosine Hydroxylase
Adrenalin
Serotonin
Acetylcholine
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GABA A receptors are Ionotropic and can mediate postsynaptic inhibition
The correct answer is: Ionotropic
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Most neurotransmitters inhibit their own release through auto- receptors. Dopamine inhibits its own release
through D2 autoreceptors.
The correct answer is: Presynaptic inhibitory receptor
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There are two families of DA receptors. D1 and D5 receptors (D1-like), which are positively coupled to
Cyclic AMP, increase cyclic AMP. D2, D3, D4 (D2-like) that inhibit and decreases cyclic AMP. D1 and D2are
predominant in the caudate and putamen, D3-nucleus accumbens, D4-- the prefrontal cortex, D5-
Hippocampus. Both D1 and D 2 have wide distribution (striatal, mesolimbic and hypothalamic) while D3 and
D4 are more localised (mesolimbic, cortical and hippocampal).
The correct answer is: Caudate-putamen
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Glucocorticoids act via their binding to the intracellular GR (Glucocorticoid Receptor) which translocates to
the nucleus to modulate gene expression. The GR belongs to a nuclear receptor superfamily of
transcription factors.
The correct answer is: Ligand dependent regulators of nuclear transcription
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The CNS metabolite of noradrenaline is MHPG (3-methoxy,4-hydroxy phenyl glycol). Outside the brain, the
peripheral metabolite is principally VMA (vanillyl mendelic acid: this is why the levels of VMA increases in
peripheral noradrenaline producing tumours such as phaeochromocytoma). Noradrenaline or its
metabolites usually do not cross the BBB with the exception of MHPG.
The correct answer is: MHPG (3-methoxy,4-hydroxy phenyl glycol)
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The ascending system of cholinergic neurons originating in the reticular formation and the cholinergic cells
in the nucleus basalis of Meynert are the major locations of cholinergic neurons in the brain.
The correct answer is: Nucleus basalis of Meynert
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Cortical choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) is reduced to a greater extent (85%) in patients with
hallucinations in Lewy body dementia than in those without hallucinations (50%). This is more pronounced
in parieto-temporal regions, hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. As a consequence, brain acetylcholine
levels are reduced in DLB similar to Alzheimer's. This may partially explain the altered sleep-wake patterns
seen in DLB and also the response of hallucinations to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
The correct answer is: Choline acetyl transferase
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Glycine and D-serine both act as co-agonists at NMDA receptors. The excitatory glycine site on the NMDA
receptor is called non-strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor.
The correct answer is: NMDA receptors
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Finish review
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