Question

1. What is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain?
2. Which group of neurotransmitters is more likely to act on ionotropic receptors, and which is more likely to act on metabotropic receptors?
3. Name one similarity and one difference between nicotinic and muscarinic receptors, and one similarity and one difference between AMPA and NMDA receptors.
4. Name a disease that is due in part to too little dopamine, and a disease that is due in part to too much dopamine in the brain. What does these tell us about one of dopamine’s function in the brain?

Answer 1

Glutamate is the main excitatory transmitter in the central nervous system.

Acetylcholine, GABA, glycine are examples of ionotropic receptors also known as ligand gated ion channels.

Epinephrine, nor epinephrine, dpoamine are examples of metabotropic receptors.

, Nicotinic and muscarinic receptors are both acetylcholine receptors. Nicotinic receptors are all excitatory,but Muscarinic receptors are both excitatory and inhibitory, the mechanism of action are different in these two receptors, nicotinic receptors are found in sympathetic nervous system, while muscarinic receptors are found parasympathetic nervous system.

AMPA and NMDA receptors are important for Long term potentiation (LTP),  AMPA receptors do not have a magnesium ion block, while NMDA receptors have magnessium block (they have magnessium ion in their core)

When you have Dopamine deficiency you are more likely to have Parkinsonism and depression, high libido, anxiety, difficulty sleeping can occur when you have too much dopamine in brain. In the brain dopamine functions as neurotransmitter, Dopamine plays a part in controlling the movements a person makes, as well as their emotional responses