Neurotransmitters: Catecholamines & Acetylcholine Chapters 5 & 6 Catecholamines Dopamine Norepinephrine Epinephrine Acetylcholine Serotonin Glutamate GABA
Jan 01, 2016
Neurotransmitters:Catecholamines & Acetylcholine
Chapters 5 & 6
Catecholamines
Dopamine
Norepinephrine
Epinephrine
Acetylcholine
Serotonin
Glutamate
GABA
CatecholeminesSome adjectives
• Dopamine (DA)– “dopaminergic”
• Norepinephrine (NE)– “noradrenergic”
• Epinephrine (EPI)– “adrenergic”
Behavioral effects of reserpine
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Dopamine Systems in the Brain
• Mesolimbic pathway– Reinforcement
• Mesocortical pathway– Planning
• Nigrostriatal pathway– Movement
Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
• Difficulty moving• Tremor in resting body parts• Loss of balance, frequent falls• Cognitive dysfunctions in memory, abstract
thinking, language• Premature death
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Causes of Parkinson’s Disease
• Degeneration of substantia nigra• Less dopaminergic activity in basal ganglia• Discovery of MPPP MPTP and MPP+
Functions of Acetylcholine (ACh)
• Neuromuscular junction (movement)
• Central nervous system (learning and memory)
Acetylcholine Receptors
• Nicotinic receptors– Neuromuscular junctions– Ionotropic (ion channel)– Curare works on these receptors
• Muscarinic receptors– Metatropic (second messengers)– Hippocampus, striatum
• Morphine– Also located in heart and smooth
muscles• Nightshade