Neurotransmitters, Neuromodulators, and their receptors

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Neurotransmitters, Neuromodulators, and their
receptors

• The following slides provides a summary of the
  major classes of neurotransmitters and the names
  of the receptors that have been identified. The
  drugs listed in these slides are drugs that
  affect neuronal transmission by attaching to the
  post and pre-synaptic receptors. Other drugs (not
  listed in these slides) affect neuronal
  functioning by altering some other function of a
  neuron.

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Neurotransmitters (NT) Neuromodulators (NM)
1. Acetylcholine (NT)
A. Catecholamines

• Dopamine
• norepinephrne
• epineprine

2. Monoamines (NT NM)
B. Indolamines

• Serotonin

3. Amino Acids (NT NM)

• Glutamate

• GABA

• Glycine

4. Peptides (NT NM)
Endorphins, enkephalins
5. Lipid-like substances (NT)
Anandamide, leptin
6. Nucleosides (NM)
adenosine
7. Soluble gases
Nitric Oxide, Carbon Monoxide
(atypical)
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Types of drugs base on their effects on receptors
Agonist - a drug that binds with and activates a
postsynaptic receptor. Antagonist - a drug that
binds with a postsynaptic receptor and does not
activate it may block the natural transmitter
from binding with the receptor
Different subtypes of Agonists and antagonists
are described on the next slide
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(also called Receptor Blocker)
(A better but never used term is indirect
antagonist)
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Receptor subtypes
Receptors belonging to one class of
neurotransmitters (e.g. Dopamine) may respond
differently to various drugs. When this is the
case the receptors are divided into subclasses.
E.g. There are several Dopamine receptors, each
responding to dopamine but differently to
different drugs. These receptors are called D1,
D2, D3, D4, and D5 receptors
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