This module is only available for Affiliate Dutch Language Assistant students from Utrecht University

In recent years many developments, such as the use of levo dopa in Parkinsonism, the manipulation of excitation in epilepsy and the discovery of endogenous...

In recent years many developments, such as the use of levo dopa in Parkinsonism, the manipulation of excitation in epilepsy and the discovery of endogenous opioids, have brought basic neuropharmacology and the successful treatment of disorders of the C.N.S. much closer together. It is likely that future prospects for drug therapy in neurology and psychiatry will depend very much on a better understanding of neurotransmitter function and manipulation. 

This neuropharmacology module tries to provide a basis for such an understanding. The evidence for different transmitters (from morphological, electrophysiological, pharmacological and biochemical studies) is evaluated so as to build up a picture of their pre- and post-synaptic actions and their interactions in specific pathways and brain areas. This knowledge is then applied to a consideration of various disease states and drug action. Special emphasis is given to neurotransmitter function and malfunction in epilepsy, Parkinsonism, memory, cell death and pain states and to the mode of action of drugs in these conditions. 

Students will attend a comprehensive series of lectures on these issues given by experts in the field. 

Indicative Lecture Topics (based on 2021/2022 syllabus) 


	Fundamentals of Neuropharmacology 
	
	
	Transmitter systems and their modulation 
	
	
	Transmitter release mechanisms 
	
	
	Neuropharmacological techniques 
	
	
	Glutamate receptors and fast transmission 
	

	Glutamate Receptors and disease 
	
	
	Metabolic glutamate receptors 
	
	
	Neuropharmacology of memory 
	
	
	Atypical transmitters 
	
	
	GABA-A Inhibition and epilepsy 
	

	GABA-B and disease 
	
	
	Cholinergic Transmission – Nicotinic aspects 
	
	
	Cholinergic transmission: Muscarinic aspects 
	
	
	Monoamines 
	
	
	Calcium channels and disease 
	

	Alzheimer's disease 
	
	
	Parkinson's disease 
	
	
	Pain and analgesics 