Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 1 views

    Screenshot 2024-10-24 at 3.51.15 PM

    Uploaded by

    naeemabeeha7

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Screenshot 2024-10-24 at 3.51.15 PM

    Uploaded by

    naeemabeeha7
    1 views18 pages

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    1 views18 pages

    Screenshot 2024-10-24 at 3.51.15 PM

    Uploaded by

    naeemabeeha7

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    You are on page 1of 18

    Neurotransmitters

    Dr Urfa Zaryab Mir


    FCPS Biochemistry , CHPE
    Assistant Professor Biochemistry, CKMC
    Instructional Objectives
    • Introduction and biochemical functions of neurotransmitters
    • Synthesis, biochemical effects and clinical significance of
    ➢ Catecholamines
    ➢ Histamine
    ➢ Serotonin
    ➢ Acetylcholine
    ➢ GABA
    ➢ Nitric Oxide
    ➢ Glutamate
    ➢ Glycine

    Recommended Books

    •Fundamentals Of Biochemistry By Dr. U.


    Satyanarayana & Dr. U. Chakrapani

    •Lippincott Illustrated Book Of Biochemistry -


    Good
    Neurotransmitters
    are chemical signals
    (“messages”) from
    one neuron (nerve
    cell) to the next
    target cell
    The next target cell
    can be another
    nerve cell a muscle
    cell or a gland

    Neurotransmitters transmit one of 3 possible actions in their messages


    1) Excitatory : “Excite” the neuron and cause it to “fire off the message,”
    meaning, the message continues to be passed along to the next cell e.g.,
    glutamate, epinephrine and norepinephrine

    2) Inhibitory : Block the chemical message from being passed along any farther
    e.g., Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine, glycine and serotonin

    3) Modulatory : Modulatory neurotransmitters influence the effects of other


    chemical messengers. They “tweak” or adjust how cells communicate at the
    synapse
    Catecholamines

    •Dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine are collectively termed as


    catecholamines
    •Dopamine and norepinephrine are synthesized in the brain and function as
    neurotransmitters
    •Epinephrine is synthesized from NE in the adrenal medulla both regulate
    carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms
    •They ↑ the degradation of TAGs and glycogen, ↑ BP and heart rate
    • They prepare the individual for stress / “fight-or-flight” reactions
    The metabolic products of these reactions are excreted in the urine
    VMA is ↑ in pheochromocytomas, rare tumors of the adrenal gland
    characterized by excessive production of catecholamines
    Stimulators of dopamine
    • Food
    • Sex
    • Exercise
    • Good, uninterrupted sleep
    • Leisurely activities like
    music, movies or books
    • Meditation
    • Being out in the sun or in
    nature Caffeine
    • Alcohol
    • Painkillers

    Dopamine
    Deficiency
    Dopamine deficiency is associated with
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • Huntington’s disease Attention deficit
    hyperactivity (ADHD)
    • Schizophrenia
    • Depression
    • Addiction

    Parkinson's Disease

    ● Mostly caused by ↓ production of


    dopamine due to degeneration of
    substantia nigra and locus
    coeruleus
    ● Treatment : Dopamine cannot
    enter the brain, hence levodopa /
    L-dopa is used in the treatment
    ● In the brain, L- DOPA is →
    dopamine which reduces the sign
    and symptom of disease
    Serotonin

    ● 1% of tryptophan → serotonin PLP


    ● Synthesis occurs in the target tissues
    (brain and argentaffin cells of GIT)
    Functions of serotonin
    ● Neurotransmitter that regulates
    cerebral activity e.g., behavior, mood,
    sleep, BP and body temperature (its ↓
    causes depression)
    ● Vasoconstriction and smooth muscle
    contraction in bronchioles and
    arterioles
    ● ↑ release of peptide hormones from
    GIT and ↑ peristalsis
    Its Synthesis and secretion from
    pineal gland is controlled by light
    Degradation of 5HT / Serotonin
    Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
    (SSRI) are the drugs that maintain serotonin
    levels in brain, thereby used as
    antidepressants
    Malignant Carcinoid Syndrome

    •Un-controlled growth of argentaffin


    cells is called malignant carcinoid /
    argentaffinomas

    •Symptoms are respiratory distress,


    sweating, hypertension etc
    Histamine

    •A powerful vasodilator that mediates


    allergic and gastric acid secretion
    •Regulates body functions including
    wakefulness, feeding behavior and
    motivation
    •Secreted by mast cells as a result of
    allergic reactions / trauma and plays a
    role in asthma, bronchospasm mucosal
    edema and multiple sclerosis

    Anti-histaminics are
    therapeutically used
    to treat allergies and
    gastric ulcer disease
    Acetylcholine
    This excitatory neurotransmitter does a
    number of functions in CNS and in PNS
    Released by most neurons in the autonomic
    nervous system regulating heart rate, blood
    pressure and gut motility
    Plays a role in muscle contractions,
    memory, motivation, sexual desire, sleep
    and learning
    Imbalances in acetylcholine levels are
    linked with Alzheimer’s disease,
    depression, psychosis, seizures and muscle
    spasms

    Choline acetyltransferase is markedly deficient


    in patients of Alzheimer's disease
    Glutamate
    Most common excitatory neurotransmitter of brain
    Plays key role in cognitive functions like thinking, learning
    and memory
    Imbalances in glutamate levels are associated
    with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s
    disease and seizures

    Gamma-aminobutryic acid
    (GABA)
    most common inhibitory
    neurotransmitter particularly
    of brain
    Regulates brain activity to
    prevent problems in the
    areas of anxiety, irritability,
    concentration, sleep, seizures
    and depression
    Glycine. Glycine is the most common inhibitory
    neurotransmitter in your spinal cord
    Involved in controlling hearing processing, pain
    transmission and metabolism

    Serotonin and Drugs of Abuse


    THANK YOU

    You might also like

    pFad - Phonifier reborn

    Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

    Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


    Alternative Proxies:

    Alternative Proxy

    pFad Proxy

    pFad v3 Proxy

    pFad v4 Proxy