PSYC414 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Dorsal Raphe Nucleus, Tryptophan Hydroxylase, Raphe Nuclei
13 Mar 2018
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Document Summary
The serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus are located in the midbrain and send their axons to many forebrain areas (only a few thousand) Begins with tryptophan (dietary amino acid- turkey) (+tryptophan hydroxylase- enzyme that adds carboxyl group = 1-5- hydroxytryptophan (5-htp) (+aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase)= 5-hydroxytrytamine aka serotonin. Similar to norepinephrine and dopamine first step is different: tryptophan. 6. 2 tryptophan entry into the brain and 5-ht synthesis. Ratio to amino acids and carbohydrates is weird. Competes w/ large neutral amino acids for the transporter to get by the blood-brain barrier low protein // high carb diet will not interfere, but same energy. Tryptophan: decreasing in depressive patients has an effect (6. 3, relaxes you, which is why turkey makes you sleepy. Only 14 serotonin receptors in the brain. Postsynaptic receptors and autoreceptors: postsynaptic- metabotropic except 1c, autoreceptor- inhibits release of nt; acts on calcium.
