Neurotransmitters

Heather Cutler, BA, DC

How to Think About Neurotransmitters

● Measuring? ● Every brain is different● Every adaptation is different● Thoughtful explanations for patients

– Requires understanding the mechanism of neurotransmission

– Acknowledge the patient as changing, not the drug as changing the patient

Test Tubes vs. People

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The Brain Changes the Brain● Brain is adapting to the presence of the drug● Drug is not changing the brain● Cannot measure adaptation● Each patient’s brain will adapt differently to

the same drug

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Neurotransmitters are our friends,

mostly.

Chemical Synapse Allows Control

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PASS THIS GUY, QUICK!

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Electrical Synapses are Automatic

YOU ARE ON FOR THE RIDE

The Chemical Synapse

Neurotransmitter Journey

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Fate of NT’s in the Cleft

● Degraded by enzyme

● Reuptake of component parts by pre-synaptic neuron– Recycled

● Co-enzymes assist

Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission

•Excitatory neurotransmitters–Propagate the signal

•Inhibitory neurotransmitters–Stop the signal

Effect of NT Depends on Receptor

● Each neuron is continuously exposed to many different neurotransmitters

● Some will have an excitatory effect; some an inhibitory effect.

● In every case, the effect of the NT depends entirely on the nature or kind of receptor on the post-synaptic membrane

Major Classes of Neurotransmitters

● Acetylcholine● Biogenic amines/catecholamines● Amino acids● Neuropeptides● Dissolved gases

Common Neurotransmitters

● Norepinephrine (NE)● Acetylcholine (Ach)● Dopamine (DA)● Serotonin (5-HTP)● GABA (Gamma aminobutyric acid)

Acetylcholineuh-see-dul-COAL-lean/Southern

ah-Seh-til-KO-leen/Northern

● Cholinergic synapse● Skeletal muscle excitatory● Cardiac muscle inhibitory● Parasympathetic

– Feed & Breed, Rest & Digest

Acetylcholine to Skeletal Muscle

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Huntington’s Disease (Ach)

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Epinephrine EP-uh-nef-fren/Southern

ep-i-NEF-rin/Northern

● Noradrenaline & Adrenaline ● Adrenergic synapse● Sympathetic ● Fight or flight

– Increase heartbeat, slow or stop digestion, tunnel vision, increase respiratory rate, blood shunted to extremities

Norpinephrine NOR-ep-uh-NEF-fren/Southern

nor-ep-i-NEF-rin/Northern

Norepinephrine & Epinephrine

Dopamine DOPE-ah-mean/SouthernDO-puh-men/Northern

• Precise control of movement

• Reward pathways• Parkinson’s dz• Cocaine

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Dopamine & Parkinson’s Disease

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Serotonin sara-TONE-en/Southern ser-o-TO-nin/Northern

● Emotion● Attention span● Sleep/wake cycle● Depression● Chronic pain syndromes

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Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

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Gamma Aminobutyric AcidGHAM-ah uh-MEAN-o {pause} bue-TIRE-rick

ay-sid/Southern Gyeah-ma a-ME-no-bu-TER-ik eya-cid/Northern

● GABA● Pain control● Anxiety ● Epilepsy● Migraines

Gamma Aminobutyric Acid

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References:

•Martini, FH, Nath, JL, & Bartholomew, EF.

(2012). Fundamentals of Anatomy &

Physiology (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Benjamin

Cummings.

•All clip art images herein are used with

permission from Microsoft.