Sunday, January 2, 2011

neurotransmitters


Acetylcholin
-Two functions of Acetylcholin
  1. in the peripheral nervous system
    : responsible for skeletal muscle movement and regulation of smooth muscle and cardiac muscle.
  2. in the central nervous system
: involved in learning, memory, and mood
- First neurotransmitter ever identified
-discovered by Henry Hallet Dale and Otto Loewi in 1914.
- an ester of acetic acid and choline; CH3COOCH2CH2N+(CH3)3
-If the acetylcholine increases, heart rate decreases and the production of saliva increases.


Serotonin
-also called 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)
-affects mood, emotion, sleep and appetie
-involved in the control of many behavioural and physiological functions
-to treat depression, medications are used for changing action of serotonin
-found in blood platelets, intestinal mucosa, the pineal body, and the central nervous system
Endolphins
-more than 20 types of endorphins are identified in humans
-Found in pituitary gland, other parts of brain, and throughout nervous system
-Secretion of endolphin :
   1. decrease feelings of pain
   2. modulate appetite
   3. release sex hormones
   4. enhance immune response.

Norepinephrine
- 4-(2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl)benzene-1,2-diol
- also called noradrenaline
-secreted by adrenal medulla
-secretion of norepinephrine increases heart rate, blood pressure, and the sugar level of the blood.
-Plays a role in attention and focus
-People with ADD/ADHD use medications that increase level of norepinephrine, such as Ritalin and  Dexedrine