1. What is a neurotransmitter?
What kind of chemicals are they?

2. Neurotransmitters

3. Acetylcholine (ACh)

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

5. Biogenic Amines - Catecholamines

6. Biogenic Amines – Indolamines
Serotonin
modulate mood, emotion, sleep and appetite

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

8. 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

9. Purines – ATP and adenosine
Neurotransmitters too!
ATP – involved in pain sensation
Adenosine – inhibitory neurotransmitter (causes hyperpolarization… making depolarization more difficult)

11. Amino Acid Neurotransmitters
GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) – presynaptic inhibition
Mess with GABA  seizure
Glutamate – associated with learning
Associated with learning
and memory

12. 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.

13. Dynorphin
Enkephalin