What is a neurotransmitter?

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What is a neurotransmitter?

• What kind of chemicals are they?

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Neurotransmitters
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Acetylcholine (ACh)
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ACh

• Famous for neuromuscular junction
• ACh released tells muscles to contract
• Cool stuff Botox inhibits release of ACh,
  paralysing muscles
• Nerve gas blocks AChE

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Biogenic Amines - Catecholamines
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Biogenic Amines Indolamines

• Serotonin
• modulate mood, emotion, sleep and appetite

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Dopamine

• helps control the brain's reward and pleasure
  centers
• helps regulate movement and emotional responses
• Dopamine deficiency results in Parkinson's Disease

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Norepinephrine (NE )Noradrenaline

• Involved in attention and arousal in CNS
• In PNS involved in fight or flight
• As a neurotransmitter works to increase
• heart rate

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Purines ATP and adenosine

• Neurotransmitters too!
• ATP involved in pain sensation
• Adenosine inhibitory neurotransmitter (causes
  hyperpolarization making depolarization more
  difficult)

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Amino Acid Neurotransmitters

• GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) presynaptic
  inhibition
• Mess with GABA ? seizure
• Glutamate associated with learning
• Associated with learning
• and memory

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Peptides amino acid chains

• substance P pain mediator
• Endorphins natural pain killers reduce
  perception of pain 20 of them
• Endo inside
• Oprh morphine
• ?endorphin Morphine like substance produced in
  body
• Opiate - anything that causes dullness or
  inaction or that soothes the feelings.

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• Dynorphin
• Enkephalin

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