REAL ES 5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Median Lethal Dose, Neurosis, Methamphetamine
Document Summary
Opioid system in the brain is involved in addiction it mediates pleasure and provides natural analgesic and stress-reducing functions via endogenous opioids (endorphins, enkephalins, pro-opiomelanocortin system). Alcohol suppresses glutamate and enhances gaba we feel less excited and more inhibited. Information flow becomes slower because of suppressed glutamate, which is involved in the process for sensory perception, information transfer and consciousness: gaba inhibition clarifies thoughts. At higher concentrations of alcohol, gaba inhibition has direct action on receptor it opens chloride channel, which is gaba dependent and then gaba binds to gabaa receptors. Glutamate activates nmda receptor and allows calcium to flow in. Channel is usually blocked by magnesium but under extreme action of ampa receptors, magnesium ions leave the channel, which unblocks it and allows calcium to flow in. It produces long-term alterations in neuronal synaptic function: alcohol blocks nmda channel, which opposes the effects of glutamate, and therefore, the cell won"t get excited.
