Question 1

Which of the following best describes the atomic structure of catecholamines?

Accepted Answer

A catechol nucleus attached to an amine group

Question 2

Which enzyme is the rate-limiting step in catecholamine synthesis?

Accepted Answer

Tyrosine hydroxylase

Question 3

A drug that blocks VMAT2 would most likely cause which effect?

Accepted Answer

Decreased storage of monoamines in vesicles, leading to depletion

Question 4

Which of the following drugs is known to block aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC)?

Accepted Answer

Carbidopa

Question 5

Which pathway is primarily affected in Parkinson's disease, and what is the main neurotransmitter involved?

Accepted Answer

Nigrostriatal pathway; dopamine

Question 6

Which of the following statements about monoamine oxidase (MAO) is correct?

Accepted Answer

MAO is found in mitochondria and differs from COMT in substrate specificity

Question 7

Which of the following is a true statement about the locus coeruleus?

Accepted Answer

It innervates virtually all parts of the telencephalon and diencephalon, including the amygdala and thalamus

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the mechanism of action of D1 dopamine receptors?

Accepted Answer

They are coupled to Gs proteins and stimulate adenylyl cyclase

Question 9

Which of the following drugs increases norepinephrine release and is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

Accepted Answer

Amphetamine

Question 10

Which adrenergic receptor subtype is primarily responsible for increasing heart rate when stimulated?

Accepted Answer

Beta-1

Question 11

Which of the following is a clinical application of beta-antagonists?

Accepted Answer

Treatment of hypertension by blocking beta-adrenergic receptors

Question 12

Which enzyme catalyzes the conversion of tryptophan to 5-hydroxytryptophan in serotonin synthesis?

Accepted Answer

Tryptophan hydroxylase

Question 13

A mouse model with a de novo mutation preventing serotonin synthesis is most likely to have mutations in which two genes?

Accepted Answer

Tryptophan hydroxylase and aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC)

Question 14

Which transporter is responsible for serotonin reuptake from the synaptic cleft, and what drug class blocks it?

Accepted Answer

SERT; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Question 15

Which of the following statements about serotonin receptors is correct?

Accepted Answer

There are 14 known serotonin receptors, most of which are metabotropic

Question 16

Which area of the brain has high concentrations of 5-HT1A receptors and is involved in mood regulation?

Accepted Answer

Hippocampus

Question 17

Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus?

Accepted Answer

Glutamate

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the excitotoxicity hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

Excessive activation of NMDA receptors by glutamate leads to neuronal death

Question 19

Which enzyme is responsible for the breakdown of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholinesterase

Question 20

What is the main difference between nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors?

Accepted Answer

Nicotinic receptors are ionotropic, muscarinic are metabotropic

Neuropsychopharmacology: Biochemical Mechanisms of Neurotransmitters

Study Guide - Practice Questions