Drugs that affect the reuptake of neurotransmitters are in widespread use for th

Question

Drugs that affect the reuptake of neurotransmitters are in widespread use for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and clinical depression. In molecular terms, explain what effect(s) such reuptake inhibitors have on postsynaptic neurons if the neurotransmitter in question is excitatory for that postsynaptic neuron. In your answer include what would happen to the postsynaptic neuron with and without the reuptake inhibitors. Also, include the concept of summation (and be specific as to what type of summation would happen in the presence of the reuptake inhibitors).

Explanation / Answer

Neurotransmitters are taken up via the pre synaptic membrane. Drugs that disrupt this process sustain the effects of the neurotransmitter at the postsynaptic level. Thus the excitatory postsynaptic neuron will be activated for long in this case as the neurotransmitter will not be removed by the reuptake and there will be a summation of potentials leading to the firing of the action potential. In the absence of such a reuptake inhibitor, the neurotransmitters will be up taken by the pre synaptic neuron after some time and the firing of the action potential by the post synaptic neuron will stop after some time.

  

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