NEUROTRANSMITTERS
Dr. Javeria Fatima
Assistant Professor
Fatima Jinnah Medical University,
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore
Neurotransmitters
•A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that carries, boosts and modulates signals
between neurons and other cells in the body.
•Neurotransmitters play a major role in everyday life and functioning.
•Scientists
do not yet know exactly how many neurotransmitters exist, but more than 100
chemical messengers have been identified.
•When neurotransmitters are affected by disease or drugs, there can be a number of
different adverse effects on the body.
•Diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are associated with deficits in certain
neurotransmitters.
Types of Neurotransmitters
•Neurotransmitters can be classified by function:
Excitatory neurotransmitters: These types of neurotransmitters have excitatory effects
on the neuron; they increase the likelihood that the neuron will fire an action potential.
Some of the major excitatory neurotransmitters include epinephrine and
norepinephrine.
•
Inhibitory neurotransmitters: These types of neurotransmitters have inhibitory effects
on the neuron; they decrease the likelihood that the neuron will fire an action potential.
Some of the major inhibitory neurotransmitters include serotonin and GABA
•Some neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine and dopamine, can both excitatory and
inhibitory effects depending upon the type of receptors that are present.
Types of Neurotransmitters
•They can also be categorized as one of six types:
1. Acetylcholine
2. Amino acids: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and Glycine Glutamate Aspartate.
3. Neuropeptides: Oxytocin,endorphins, vasopressin, etc.
4. Monoamines: Epinephrine, norepinephrine, histamine, dopamine and serotonin.
5. Purines: Adenosine, ATP.
6. Lipids and gases: Nitric oxide, cannabinoids.
Identifying Neurotransmitters
•The actual identification of neurotransmitters can actually be quite difficult. While
scientist can observe the vesicles containing neurotransmitters, actually figuring out what
chemicals are stored in the vesicles is not quite so simple. Because of this, neuroscientists
have developed a number of guidelines for determining whether or not a chemical should
be called a neurotransmitter:
1. The chemical must be produced inside the neuron
2. The necessary precursor enzymes must be present in the neuron
3. There must be enough of the chemical present to actually have an effect on the
postsynaptic neuron
4. The chemical must be released by the presynaptic neuron, and the postsynaptic neuron
must contain receptors that the chemical will bind to
5. There must be a reuptake mechanism or enzyme present that stops the action of the
chemical.
Identifying Neurotransmitters
•Acetylcholine – involved in voluntary movement, learning, memory, and sleep
•§ Too much acetylcholine is associated with depression, and too little in the
hippocampus has been associated with dementia.
•Dopamine – correlated with movement, attention, and learning
•§ Too much dopamine has been associated with schizophrenia, and too little is
associated with some forms of depression as well as the muscular rigidity and tremors
found in Parkinson’s disease.
•Norepinephrine – associated with eating, alertness
•§ Too little norepinephrine has been associated with depression, while an excess has
been associated with schizophrenia.
Identifying Neurotransmitters
•Epinephrine – involved in energy, and glucose metabolism
•§ Too little epinephrine has been associated with depression.
•Serotonin – plays a role in mood, sleep, appetite, and impulsive and aggressive behavior
•§ Too little serotonin is associated with depression and some anxiety disorders,
especially obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some antidepressant medications increase the
availability of serotonin at the receptor sites.
•GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid) – inhibits excitation and anxiety
•§ Too little GABA is associated with anxiety and anxiety disorders. Some antianxiety
medication increases GABA at the receptor sites.
•Endorphins – involved in pain relief and feelings of pleasure and contentedness
