Exam 3 Review:  Chapter 11:  Neurotransmitters

acetylcholine = ACH - An excitatory neurotransmitter that is a derivative of the amine, choline; released by motor neurons at the neuromuscular junction, by all preganglionic autonomic visceral motor neurons, by all parasympathetic postganglionic visceral motor neurons, by sympathetic postganglionic visceral motor neurons for sweat glands, and by a variety of neurons in the CNS.

glutamate - A salt or ester of the amino acid, glutamic acid, it often functions as an excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS.

aspartate - A salt or ester of the amino acid, aspartic acid, it sometimes functions as an excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS.

gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) - An amino acid that is found in the CNS; it acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter.

glycine - The simplest amino acid; it acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the spinal cord and brain stem.

norepinephrine (noradrenalin) - A catecholamine, both a hormone and neurotransmitter; it may be excitatory or inhibitory, depending on its target cell's response; it is secreted by the adrenal medulla and by the postganglionic nerve endings of the sympathetic nervous system to cause vasoconstriction and increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and the glucose level of the blood. 

dopamine - A monoamine excitatory neurotransmitter formed in the brain by the decarboxylation of L-dopa and essential to the normal functioning of the CNS; it is a precursor to norepinephrine and epinephrine. It may be used as a drug to treat hypotension and bradycardia.  A reduction in its concentration within the brain is associated with Parkinson's disease.

agonist - (1) The muscle which provides the major force for a particular movement.  (2) A drug, neurotransmitter, hormone or other chemical which can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce or enhance a physiologic reaction in the target cell.

antagonist - (1) The muscle(s) which oppose or reverse a particular movement.  (2) A drug, neurotransmitter, hormone or other chemical substance which interferes with the physiological action of another chemical, especially by combining with and blocking a nerve or effector receptor.

List:

14. Eight neurotransmitters and the type of neurons they are released from.

acetylcholine = ACH:   excitatory at neuro-muscular junction in PNS; excitatory or inhibitory in PNS (ANS); excitatory or inhibitory in CNS
glutamate:  excitatory in CNS
aspartate
norepinephrine: excitatory or inhibitory in PNS (ANS); excitatory or inhibitory in CNS
dopamine: excitatory or inhibitory in PNS (ANS); excitatory or inhibitory in CNS
ATP: excitatory or inhibitory in PNS (ANS); excitatory or inhibitory in CNS
nitric oxide (NO):  excitatory in CNS
carbon monoxide (CO):  excitatory in CNS and PNS

gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibitory in CNS
glycine: inhibitory in CNS
serotonin: inhibitory in CNS
endorphins, dynorphin, enkephalins: inhibitory in CNS
somatostatin: inhibitory in CNS