PSYC 410 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Adrenal Gland, Serotonergic, Tryptophan Hydroxylase

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 410
• Professor: Richard Koestner

Document Summary

Most of the known neurotransmitter molecules are either: amino acids, amines derived from amino acids, peptides constructed from amino acids. Ach is an exception; but it is derived from acetyl coa, Choline which is important for fat metabolism throughout the body. Amino acid and amine transmitters are generally each stored in and released by separate sets of neurons. Dale"s principle- idea that a neuron has only one neurotransmitter. Many peptide containing neurons violate dale"s principle because these cells usually release more than one neurotransmitter: an amino acid or amine and a peptide. Co-transmitters- two or more transmitters released from one nerve terminal. But still most neurons release only a single amino acid or amine neurotransmitters. Acetylcholine (ach)- is the neurotransmitter at the neuromuscular junction and therefore is synthesized by all the motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain stem. Ach synthesis requires a specific enzyme, choline acetyltransferase (chat)