Noradrenaline neurons

Figure 8.7 Schematic diagram of the proposed structure of the noradrenaline neuronal transporter showing the 12 transmembrane, hydrophobic domains with the N- and C-termini projecting towards the cell cytoplasm. Binding domains for specific ligands are thought to be within regions indicated by the solid bars. (From Stanford 1999, reproduced with permission)...

Noradrenaline acts on three types of receptor. The ai receptors mediate the main excitatory effects of noradrenaline upon wake-active neurons in the dorsal raphe, basal forebrain, and elsewhere (Vandermaelen Aghajanian, 1983 Nicoll, 1988 Fort et al., 1995 Brown et al., 2002). The a2 receptors mediate inhibitory effects of noradrenaline, e.g. on noradrenaline neurons themselves and on cholinergic brainstem neurons (Williams et al., 1985 Williams Reiner, 1993). The (3-receptors modulate neurons in a more subtle fashion, increasing excitability via blockade of afterhyperpolarizations in hippocampal and cortical neurons (Haas Konnerth, 1983). Activation of (3-receptors also promotes synaptic plasticity via activation of the cyclic-AMP-dependent kinase (PKA) and cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) signal transduction pathway (Stanton Sarvey, 1987 Cirelli et al., 1996). 

D.L. Felten, H. Hallman and G. Jonsson, Evidence for a neurotrophic role of noradrenaline neurons in the postnatal development of rat cerebral cortex, J. Neurocytol., 11 (1982) 119-135. 

Carlsson A, Dahlstroem A, Fuxe K, Hillarp NA (1965) Failure of reserpine to deplete noradrenaline neurons of alpha-methylnoradrenaline formed from alpha-methyl dopa. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol (Copenh) 22 270-276. 

Montel H, Starke K, Taube HD (1975) Morphine tolerance and dependence in noradrenaline neurons of the rat cerebral cortex. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg s Arch Pharmacol 258 415-26 Potkin SG, Saha AR, Kujawa MJ, Carson WH, Ali M, Stock E, Strinfellow J, Ingenito G, Marder SR (2003) Aripiprazole, an antipsychotic with a novel mechanism of action and risperidone vs. placebo in patients with schizophrenia and psychoaffective disorder. Arch Gen Psychiat 60 681-90... 

Svensson TH, Usdin T (1978) Feedback inhibition of brain noradrenaline neurons by tricyclic antidepressants a-receptor mediation. Science 202 1089-91 Svensson TH, Bunney BS, Aghajanian G (1975) Inhibition of both noradrenergic and serotonergic neurons in the brain by the a-adrenergic agonist clonidine. Brain Res 92 291-306 Szabo B (2002) Imidazoline antihypertensive drugs a critical review on their mechanism of action. Pharmacol Therapeut, 93 1-35... 

Luthman J, Fredriksson A, Sundstrom E, Jonsson G, Archer T (1989) Selective lesion of central dopamine or noradrenaline neuron systems in the neonatal rat motor behavior and monoamine alterations at adult stage. Behav Brain Res 33 67-77. 

Grzanna R, Fritschy J-M (1991) Efferent projections of different subpopulations of central noradrenaline neurons. Progress in Brain Research. Vol. 88, 89-101. 

Adrenergic. Relating to epinephrine (adrenaline) or norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Commonly used to describe neurons that utilize norepinephrine as a neurotransmitter and the drugs that interact with these neurons. 

The adrenergic system is an essential regulator that increases cardiovascular and metabolic capacity during situations ofstress, exercise, and disease. Nerve cells in the central and peripheral nervous system synthesize and secrete the neurotransmitters noradrenaline and adrenaline. In the peripheral nervous system, noradrenaline and adrenaline are released from two different sites noradrenaline is the principal neurotransmitter of sympathetic neurons that innervate many organs and tissues. In contrast, adrenaline, and to a lesser degree noradrenaline, is produced and secreted from the adrenal gland into the circulation (Fig. 1). Thus, the actions of noradrenaline are mostly restricted to the sites of release from sympathetic nerves, whereas adrenaline acts as a hormone to stimulate many different cells via the blood stream. 

The biological actions of adrenaline and noradrenaline are mediated via nine different G-protein-coupled receptors, which are located in the plasma membrane of neuronal and nonneuronal target cells. These recqrtors are divided into two different groups, a-adrenergic receptors and P-adrenergic recqrtors (see P-adrenergic system). 

Antidepressants Noradrenaline/5-HT transporters Na+, K+ channels l Noradrenaline/ 5-HT reuptake l Na+ currents t K+ currents l Excitability of peripheral and central neurons Cardiac arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, sedation, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, sleep disturbance, blurred vision... 

Cotransmission is transmission through a single synapse by means of more than one transmitter. For example, to elicit vasoconstriction, postganglionic sympathetic neurones release their classical transmitter noradrenaline (which acts on smooth muscle a-adrenoceptors) as well as ATP (which acts on smooth muscle P2 receptors) and neuropeptide Y (which acts on smooth muscle Yx receptors). 

Hi-receptors in the adrenal medulla stimulates the release of the two catecholamines noradrenaline and adrenaline as well as enkephalins. In the heart, histamine produces negative inotropic effects via Hr receptor stimulation, but these are normally masked by the positive effects of H2-receptor stimulation on heart rate and force of contraction. Histamine Hi-receptors are widely distributed in human brain and highest densities are found in neocortex, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, thalamus and posterior hypothalamus where they predominantly excite neuronal activity. Histamine Hrreceptor stimulation can also activate peripheral sensory nerve endings leading to itching and a surrounding vasodilatation ( flare ) due to an axonal reflex and the consequent release of peptide neurotransmitters from collateral nerve endings. 

The neuropeptides are peptides acting as neurotransmitters. Some form families such as the tachykinin family with substance P, neurokinin A and neurokinin B, which consist of 11 or 12 amino acids and possess the common carboxy-terminal sequence Phe-X-Gly-Leu-Met-CONH2. Substance P is a transmitter of primary afferent nociceptive neurones. The opioid peptide family is characterized by the C-terminal sequence Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-X. Its numerous members are transmitters in many brain neurones. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), with 36 amino acids, is a transmitter (with noradrenaline and ATP) of postganglionic sympathetic neurones. 

There are numerous transmitter substances. They include the amino acids glutamate, GABA and glycine acetylcholine the monoamines dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin the neuropeptides ATP and NO. Many neurones use not a single transmitter but two or even more, a phenomenon called cotransmission. Chemical synaptic transmission hence is diversified. The basic steps, however, are similar across all neurones, irrespective of their transmitter, with the exception of NO transmitter production and vesicular storage transmitter release postsynaptic receptor activation and transmitter inactivation. Figure 1 shows an overview. Nitrergic transmission, i.e. transmission by NO, differs from transmission by other transmitters and is not covered in this essay. 

After an overview of neurotransmitter systems and function and a consideration of which substances can be classified as neurotransmitters, section A deals with their release, effects on neuronal excitability and receptor interaction. The synaptic physiology and pharmacology and possible brain function of each neurotransmitter is then covered in some detail (section B). Special attention is given to acetylcholine, glutamate, GABA, noradrenaline, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and the peptides but the purines, histamine, steroids and nitric oxide are not forgotten and there is a brief overview of appropriate basic pharmacology. 

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