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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Janelle on April 3, 2002, at 2:05:35
I used Fachad's excellent links to basic neuroanatomy, honest I did< and I also attempted my own search(es) but I cannot find the answer to a nagging very specific question about neurons.
Awhile back, someone on here, in response to one of my questions, made reference to "serotonin neuron" and this leads me to ask does each neuron ONLY handle one kind of neurotransmitter (eg. a serotonin neuron only handles serotonin, a dopamine neuron only handles dopamine) OR does each neuron handle multiple neurotransmitters?
Thanks, thanks and thanks!
Posted by IsoM on April 3, 2002, at 3:34:31
In reply to A ''SEROTONIN NEURON'' ??, posted by Janelle on April 3, 2002, at 2:05:35
Janelle, I can't say whether every neuron in the brain handles every neurotransmitter there is, but no, neurotransmitters aren't specific for specific neurons. The same path (a neuron)is used by many of the neurotransmitters. The axon end can release different neurotransmitters & the receptor ends have various receptors that receive diff neurotransmitters released.
You do know that there are many chemicals that can act as chemical messengers in neurons, don't you? Not just neurotransmitter you hear about like serotonin, dopamine etc, right?
Posted by fachad on April 3, 2002, at 7:23:25
In reply to A ''SEROTONIN NEURON'' ??, posted by Janelle on April 3, 2002, at 2:05:35
Now THAT'S a perfect "Dr. Kramer" question.
> I used Fachad's excellent links to basic neuroanatomy, honest I did< and I also attempted my own search(es) but I cannot find the answer to a nagging very specific question about neurons.
>
> Awhile back, someone on here, in response to one of my questions, made reference to "serotonin neuron" and this leads me to ask does each neuron ONLY handle one kind of neurotransmitter (eg. a serotonin neuron only handles serotonin, a dopamine neuron only handles dopamine) OR does each neuron handle multiple neurotransmitters?
>
> Thanks, thanks and thanks!
Posted by Janelle on April 3, 2002, at 14:28:12
In reply to Re: A ''SEROTONIN NEURON'' ?? » Janelle, posted by fachad on April 3, 2002, at 7:23:25
Posted by Janelle on April 3, 2002, at 14:32:47
In reply to Re: A ''SEROTONIN NEURON'' ?? » Janelle, posted by IsoM on April 3, 2002, at 3:34:31
> You do know that there are many chemicals that can act as chemical messengers in neurons, don't you? Not just neurotransmitter you hear about like serotonin, dopamine etc, right?
Embarassingly (well, no, NOT embarassingly, I've already mentioned numerous times on here that I have NO bio, chem, anatomy background! LOL!) but no I did not know that neurons handle many chemical messengers, not just neurotransmitters!
Could you give me an example of another (type of) chemical messenger that a neuron handles?
Thanks!
Dumbo
Posted by IsoM on April 3, 2002, at 15:43:55
In reply to IsoM: thanks, more: » IsoM, posted by Janelle on April 3, 2002, at 14:32:47
I'll give a number of examples but please don't concern yourself with all the different ones. It's akin to trying to boost your car engine's performance yourself without first understanding the basic principles of internal combustion & gasoline engines.
Here's a number of them. I don't even know if there's more or if researchers are still finding more.
Glutamate: the most common & widespread in the brain, excitatory transmitter
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid): most common & widespread, inhibitory transmitter
Glycine: an amino acid used in nerve transmission too
Acetylcholine: abbreviated as ACh
Serotonin: also called 5-hyroxytrytomine or 5-HT
Dopamine
Norepinephrine: also called noradrenaline in Britain
Epinephrine: also called adrenaline in Britain
Histamine
Substance P: a neuropeptide discovered recently to be involved with the slow pain system
Endorphins: includes beta-endorphin, enkephalins, dynorphins (which I know nothing about)
Nitric oxide: involved in many functions in the body plus involved in the brain with memory retentionThese aare also calcium, sodium, & potassium ions that move inside & outside the neurons which provide the electrical potential of the neurons.
Is this all there is? And has it been nicely summarised? I doubt it. If I know a subject inside out, I can simplify it to make it more understandable for others (like horticulture) but what I know of neurobiology is made up hodgepodge style from years of learning & reading. I wish I'd learned it correctly from a solid base of knowledge, then it might be a lot clearer for me too.
I think you're plenty intelligent to learn all this, but it did take most of us years. Attempting to get it all straight in a matter of weeks or months may cause your head to explode. Be warned! :-)
This is the end of the thread.
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