Posted by dennison on August 15, 2002, at 21:12:11
In reply to Need to pick somebody's brains?, posted by denise528 on August 15, 2002, at 14:33:20
Hi :) Blocking a receptor-prevents that receptor from eliciting it's response--ex. antipsychotics block the dopamine D2 receptor especially--thus preventing it from being stimulated. .................................................. Ok blocking the """reuptake of a neurotransmitter--ex. ssri's --selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor ""BLOCK "" the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin from ""reuptake"" ***back*** into the neuron that released it - thus leaving it in the synapse where it can stimulate various receptors. Blocking the reuptake ""process"" is not blocking a receptor but inhibiting or ""blocking"" the ""process "" of reuptake which removes the neurotransmitter from the synapse. Thus the term ""reuptake"" --or removing the neurotransmitter--by reuptaking it ""back "" to where it was released initially from the ""pre""--synaptic neuron. Reuptake is the main method the synapse has for ending the neurotransmitters activity in the synapse--by "removing it from the "" synapse"" >>back into ""inside"" the neuron --thus deactivating it--for the time being. ........ Presynaptic neuron >>>>> releases the neurotransmitter >>>>> into synapse>>>>>> transmitter>>>>> crosses synapse to>>>>>> ""post synaptic receptor"" or ""another receptor"" as long as it's in the synapse. That's the process as would normally occur........................................................................................................Ok the normally the neurotransmitter is "removed"" from the synapse by being reuptaken back into the ""presynaptic neuron"" blocking ""reuptake " lets the neurotansmitter remain in the synapse where it can be active for a more ""sustained action Reuptake can be simply thought of as the ""reverse "" of "" release "" !....................................................................................Now back to """BLOCKING"""" a receptor--that's simply using a drug to bind to the receptor that normally wouldn't be there---thus preventing "" access to the the receptor"" the blocking agent -- simply blocks the abilty of that receptor to be stimulated by whatever normally would. The blocking agent simply blocks the receptor it doesn't stimulate it as the normally acting chemical would it simply physically occupies the "" doorway"" to the receptor thus preventing that receptor from being exposed to any other chemical or influence it--shut's down the function of that receptor in essence !!! ..................Hope that was helpful- perhaps a bit of a rambling explanation but accurate :):):)
poster:dennison
thread:116547
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020814/msgs/116575.html