Explain how nitric oxide exerts an effect on adjacent neurons in ...

[mpobi80]

Explain how nitric oxide exerts an effect on adjacent neurons in the body.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Describe the synthesis of dopamine and diagram the postsynaptic dopamine receptor subtypes. Identify the most common dopamine agonists and antagonists and describe their mechanisms of action.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[Leostella20]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: Nitric oxide is produced in nerve cells and diffuses out of the cells to exert effects on second messenger systems in adjacent cells (e.g., cyclic AMP). NO has effects in the periphery (intestinal muscle contraction) and in the brain.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: DA is synthesized from tyrosine and then L-DOPA. Dopamine acts via 2 families of receptors: the D1 and D2 receptors. D1 receptors are postsynaptic and linked to increased cyclic AMP, whereas D2 receptors are found pre- and postsynaptically and are negatively coupled to cyclic AMP. DA autoreceptors inhibit the presynaptic cell.