Posted by JohnX2 on March 15, 2002, at 1:08:51
In reply to JOHNX2 - question about your info here: » JohnX2, posted by Janelle on March 15, 2002, at 0:28:22
> Is blocking the reuptake of something (let's say serotonin) the same thing as blocking a particular receptor (say 5ht-2a)? I'm getting confused because ...
>I think the word "block" is being generically used to describe various mechanisms that are being inhibited.
> You said that Serzone is a mild serotonin reuptake inhibitor, a concept I'm familar with.
>
> You also said that Serzone blocks, i.e. gets in the way of serotonin activating, a particular serotonin receptor (5ht-2a) that people think is linked to anxiety and depression.
>
> And you said that most atypical anti-psychotics like Zyprexa also do the same thing (block this receptor), that Serzone also blocks the reuptake of noradrenaline (norepinephrine) and that Serzone mildly blocks a particular norepinephrine receptor as a side effect (the alpha-1), which may lead to a bit of fatigue for some people but for many people the norepinpherine reuptake inhibiting property offsets this, so no side effect.
>
> I'm not quite getting the difference between blocking the reuptake of a neurotransmitter (like Serotonin) and blocking an actual receptor - could you explain the difference if there is one? Thanks!
> -JanelleYou should dig around the internet, there probably are good web sites with pictures I don't have any links handy. This is pretty complicated if you don't have a good science background.
There is a sending neuron. I'll call it A.
There is a receiveing neuron. I'll call it B.The neuron may send a different type of chemical (serotonin,norepinephrine,dopamine,acetycholine,etc).
Serotonin example:
A will release serotonin to B.
Various "receptors" at B will recognize the serotonin that A sent it and process it (kind of like sending a message). There are different types of receptor subclasses that interpret the serotonin at B. 5ht-1, 5ht-2,....
Neuron A only can manufacture a certain amount of serotonin, so it wants it's serotonin back after B has looked at it. This is what a "reuptake pump" does; it give the serotonin back to A. It just sits there and returns the serotonin to A from B. If we sort of slow down this reuptake pump (reuptake inhibitor), then maybe those receptors at B have more time to look at that serotonin.
One of those receptors at B is the 5ht-2a receptor. This receptor does different things when serotonin is sitting on it. Some of those things aren't so nice. So we like to have a widget that sits on top of that 5ht-2a receptor at B and says "scat" to the serotonin.
For the serzone at the norepinephrine site,
There is something sitting on the alpha-1 receptor blocking some norepinephrine, but at the same time the reuptake inhibitor is causing more norepinephrine to "hang around" at the receiving neuron. Maybe they offset each other, maybe they don't.
Got it?
-John
poster:JohnX2
thread:98014
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020313/msgs/98079.html