Sample Questions

For each drug in questions 1-3, indicate (using the following format--if you make up one of your own, you'll lose points):

a) whether it has an agonistic or antagonistic action,

b) the underlying (cellular) mechanism by which it produces the preceding (don't tell me what it does to the entire organism), and

c) the neurotransmitter(s) that it affects (where appropriate, remember to note if a specific receptor type is involved)

1. morphine (3 points)

2. reserpine (3 points)

3. belladonna alkaloids (e.g., atropine) (3 points)

In answers 4-6 tell me 3 different cellular mechanisms (one per question) by which a drug or other external manipulation could produce an agonistic effect on a neurotransmitter system (you may repeat a mechanism involved in questions 1-3). For each of the preceding mechanisms, give me:

a) the mechanism, of course (DO NOT NAME A NEUROTRANSMITTER OR ANYTHING SPECIFIC TO A NEUROTRANSMITTER WHEN YOU NAME A MECHANISM--DON'T DO IT!!!!!  JUST NAME THE NON-NEUROTRANSMITTER-SPECIFIC MECHANISM.)

b) a drug (or manipulation) that has that effect (you MAY NOT use those mentioned in questions 1-3) and

c) the neurotransmitter(s) affected by "b" (where appropriate, remember to note if a specific receptor type is involved).

4. a) mechanism, b) drug (or manipulation), c) neurotransmitter(s) (3 points)

5. same as 4, but a different mechanism (3 points)

6. same as 4, but a different mechanism (3 points)

7. Using a whole page, reproduce the drawing I presented in class showing a single action potential. (17 points--this does not involve drawing a circle)

Indicate ON THE DRAWING using labels--DON'T write a story (IT WILL COST YOU AT LEAST 5 POINTS IF YOU DO):

appropriate voltages on the Y axis

one "threshold"

two refractory periods

where relevant (2 ion species) channels open/close

directions in which two ions flow

forces that drive these ions (watch your forces)

  1. Synthesize a neurotransmitter from the list I gave you, don't forget the relevant enzymes. (5 points)
1 If you find more of a negative ion inside of a cell than outside of a cell, the Nernst equation would indicate that the cell membrane is ___________ charged inside relative to outside. Answer the same question, but now assume that you are considering a positive ion. (2 points)

a. positively, positively

b. positively, negatively

c. negatively, positively

d. negatively, negatively

That's All Folks