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Flashcards in this deck (53)
  • The term catecholamine is derived from the structural configuration consisting of a catechol nucleus and a nitrogen containing group known as an amine.

    biochemistry neurotransmitters
  • Catecholamines act as neurotransmitter and hormones in the body.

    biochemistry hormones
  • Catecholamines are present in the nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and the adrenal medulla.

    anatomy nervous_system
  • The adrenal medulla releases norepinephrine and epinephrine into the bloodstream in response to stress.

    hormones stress
  • Dopamine is a neurotransmitter crucial for motor and behavioral function.

    biochemistry neurotransmitters
  • Deficiency of dopamine can lead to Parkinsonism, while an excess can cause chorea, dyskinesia, and tics.

    neurology dopamine
  • Dopamine deficiency may contribute to mild cognitive impairment and depression associated with Parkinson's disease.

    neurology mental_health
  • An excess of dopamine can lead to psychosis, elation, hypomania, and confusion.

    neurology mental_health
  • Dopaminergic disturbances are believed to contribute to the pathology of conditions like schizophrenia, OCD, and anxiety.

    mental_health dopamine
  • Dopamine is known as the pleasure neurotransmitter because it plays a crucial role in the brain reward system.

    neurotransmitters pleasure
  • Certain stimulants can affect brain dopamine levels and lead to psychoactive effects.

    drugs dopamine
  • The synthesis of catecholamines begins with the amino acid tyrosine, obtained from dietary protein.

    biochemistry amino_acids
  • Dopaminergic neurons contain tyrosine hydroxylase and aromatic amino acid decarboxylase.

    biochemistry neurotransmitters
  • In noradrenergic neurons, a third enzyme called dopamine beta hydroxylase is required to add a hydroxyl group.

    biochemistry neurotransmitters
  • When action potential arrives, it stimulates tyrosine hydroxylase to produce DOPA.

    biochemistry dopamine
  • The activity of tyrosine hydroxylase is regulated by the concentration of dopamine and norepinephrine.

    biochemistry regulation
  • Catecholamines are transported into synaptic vesicles through vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT).

    biochemistry transport
  • VMAT-2 is found in the brain, while VMAT-1 is found in the adrenal medulla.

    biochemistry anatomy
  • Both VMATs are blocked by reserpine, leading to a drop in monoamine concentration in the brain.

    drugs neurotransmitters
  • There are five main subtypes of dopamine receptors organized into D1 and D2 families.

    biochemistry receptors
  • D1 receptors activate GS, stimulating adenyl cyclase, while D2 receptors activate GI, leading to decreased cyclic AMP synthesis.

    biochemistry receptors
  • D2 receptor activation regulates the membrane ion channel for potassium, enhancing its opening and leading to hyperpolarization.

    biochemistry neurons
  • Dopaminergic cells are found in the sustancia nigra and ventral tegmental area, forming the four major dopaminergic pathways: mesolimbic, mesocortical, negrostriatal, and tuberoinfundibular pathways.

    neuroscience dopamine pathways
  • The mesolimbic pathway transmits dopamine from the ventral tegmental area to the ventral striatum, nucleus accumbens, septum, amygdala, and hippocampus.

    neuroscience dopamine pathways
  • The mesocortical pathway transmits dopamine from the VTA to the cerebral cortex, particularly the prefrontal cortex.

    neuroscience dopamine pathways
  • The mesocortical and mesolimbic pathways are important for cognitive function, memory, motivation, and emotional response.

    neuroscience dopamine functions
  • The negrostriatal pathway transmits dopamine from the sustancia nigra, pars compacta to the caudal nucleus and putamen.

    neuroscience dopamine pathways
  • The negrostriatal pathway is involved in motor coordination and has been implicated in Parkinson's disease and chorea.

    neuroscience dopamine diseases
  • The tuberoinfundibular pathway transmits dopamine from the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland.

    neuroscience dopamine pathways
  • In Parkinson's disease, neurodegeneration of dopamine neurons in the sustancia nigra leads to a relative loss of dopaminergic activity in the negrostriatal pathway, resulting in hypokinetic symptoms treated with L-DOPA.

    neuroscience diseases treatment
  • In Huntington's chorea, neurodegeneration of striatal GABAergic neurons results in excessive dopaminergic activity in the negrostriatal pathway, leading to hyperkinetic movements.

    neuroscience diseases movement
  • In schizophrenia, there is a relative excess of dopaminergic activity in mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways, which can be treated with two receptor antagonists.

    neuroscience diseases treatment
  • Dopamine is often referred to as a pleasure neurotransmitter, and in drug addiction, dopamine levels are heightened in the mesolimbic pathway.

    neuroscience dopamine addiction
  • The inactivation of catecholamines depends on different processes, including reuptake via transporter proteins like the dopamine transporter and norepinephrine transporter.

    neuroscience transporters dopamine
  • After neurotransmitters are returned to the terminal, some are repackaged into vesicles for release, while others are broken down or eliminated.

    neuroscience neurotransmitters processes
  • Drugs that block the transporter enhance dopamine and norepinephrine transmission by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters available to activate the receptor.

    neuroscience drugs transmission
  • For example, methylphenidate and amphetamine inhibit catecholamine transporters, blocking both dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake.

    neuroscience drugs treatment
  • Catecholamine levels are regulated by metabolic enzymes such as monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT).

    neuroscience enzymes regulation
  • Selective MAO inhibitors are used for depression and Parkinson's disease, while COMT inhibitors are also used for Parkinson's disease.

    neuroscience treatment diseases
  • Catecholamine release is regulated by autoreceptors located on the cell body, terminals, and dendrites, inhibiting further release of neurotransmitters.

    neuroscience autoreceptors regulation
  • The dopamine autoreceptor inhibits neurotransmitter release through two mechanisms: it inhibits the action of voltage-gated channels.

    neuroscience autoreceptors mechanisms
  • The dopamine autoreceptor inhibits neurotransmitter release through two mechanisms: it either inhibits the action of voltage-gated calcium channels or enhances the opening of voltage-gated potassium channels.

    neurotransmitters dopamine autoreceptors
  • For dopamine, the autoreceptor is the D2 receptor, and for norepinephrine, it is the alpha-2 receptor.

    neurotransmitters dopamine norepinephrine
  • The serotonergic system originates in the middle of the brainstem, specifically in the medulla, pons, and midbrain.

    serotonin brain neurotransmitters
  • Serotonergic cell bodies are located in the raffine nucleus, which consists of the dorsal raffine nucleus, V7, and the median raffine nucleus V8.

    serotonin brain neurotransmitters
  • Serotonergic fibers extend to all regions of the forebrain, including the neocortex, nucleus accumbens, thalamus, hypothalamus, and various parts of the limbic system such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and septal area.

    serotonin brain forebrain
  • Serotonin is produced from the amino acid tryptophan, which we acquire from the proteins in our diet.

    serotonin tryptophan nutrition
  • The synthesis of serotonin occurs in two steps: The enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase converts tryptophan into 5-hydroxytryptophan, and the enzyme aromatic amino acid decarboxylase transforms 5-hydroxytryptophan into serotonin.

    serotonin biochemistry synthesis
  • 95% of the ingested tryptophan is metabolized into quinoa grain rather than serotonin.

    tryptophan metabolism nutrition
  • A preclinical study indicates that large doses of tryptophan can stimulate serotonin synthesis in the brain, but the administration of 5-HDB has proven to be more effective.

    serotonin tryptophan research
  • Serotonin plays an important role in regulating anxiety and various disorders, including depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

    serotonin mental_health disorders
  • Serotonin is also used in the treatment of migraines.

    serotonin treatment migraines
  • Several systems of abuse, such as LSD and ecstasy, target the serotonin receptor.

    serotonin abuse drugs