NR 546 NEUROTRANSMITTER
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
|GRADE A+| JUST RELEASED
CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING
1. A patient exhibits significant negative symptoms and cognitive impairment in
schizophrenia. Which dopamine pathway is most likely associated with these symptoms?
A. Mesolimbic pathway
B. Mesocortical pathway
C. Nigrostriatal pathway
D. Tuberoinfundibular pathway
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The mesocortical pathway, which projects from the ventral
tegmental area to the prefrontal cortex, is hypothesized to mediate cognitive and negative
symptoms when dopamine levels are deficient.
,2. Which enzyme serves as the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of dopamine and
norepinephrine?
A. Tyrosine hydroxylase
B. Dopa decarboxylase
C. Tryptophan hydroxylase
D. Monoamine oxidase
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Tyrosine hydroxylase converts tyrosine to L-DOPA and is the
rate-limiting step for catecholamine synthesis.
3. The NMDA receptor is unique because it requires a specific ion to be displaced from its
channel to allow ion flow. Which ion acts as this ‘plug’?
A. Calcium
B. Sodium
C. Magnesium
D. Chloride
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: At resting membrane potential, the NMDA receptor channel is
blocked by a magnesium (Mg2+) ion, which is only removed upon depolarization.
, 4. Which serotonin receptor subtype is primarily targeted by ondansetron to prevent
chemotherapy-induced nausea?
A. 5-HT1A
B. 5-HT2C
C. 5-HT3
D. 5-HT7
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The 5-HT3 receptor is the only ionotropic serotonin receptor
and is heavily involved in the vomiting reflex in the gut and brainstem.
5. What is the primary mechanism of action of benzodiazepines at the GABA-A receptor?
A. Direct agonist at the GABA binding site
B. Irreversible inhibitor of GABA transaminase
C. Competitive antagonist
D. Positive allosteric modulator
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Benzodiazepines bind to an allosteric site on the GABA-A
receptor, increasing the frequency of chloride channel opening in the presence of GABA.
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
|GRADE A+| JUST RELEASED
CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING
1. A patient exhibits significant negative symptoms and cognitive impairment in
schizophrenia. Which dopamine pathway is most likely associated with these symptoms?
A. Mesolimbic pathway
B. Mesocortical pathway
C. Nigrostriatal pathway
D. Tuberoinfundibular pathway
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The mesocortical pathway, which projects from the ventral
tegmental area to the prefrontal cortex, is hypothesized to mediate cognitive and negative
symptoms when dopamine levels are deficient.
,2. Which enzyme serves as the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of dopamine and
norepinephrine?
A. Tyrosine hydroxylase
B. Dopa decarboxylase
C. Tryptophan hydroxylase
D. Monoamine oxidase
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Tyrosine hydroxylase converts tyrosine to L-DOPA and is the
rate-limiting step for catecholamine synthesis.
3. The NMDA receptor is unique because it requires a specific ion to be displaced from its
channel to allow ion flow. Which ion acts as this ‘plug’?
A. Calcium
B. Sodium
C. Magnesium
D. Chloride
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: At resting membrane potential, the NMDA receptor channel is
blocked by a magnesium (Mg2+) ion, which is only removed upon depolarization.
, 4. Which serotonin receptor subtype is primarily targeted by ondansetron to prevent
chemotherapy-induced nausea?
A. 5-HT1A
B. 5-HT2C
C. 5-HT3
D. 5-HT7
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The 5-HT3 receptor is the only ionotropic serotonin receptor
and is heavily involved in the vomiting reflex in the gut and brainstem.
5. What is the primary mechanism of action of benzodiazepines at the GABA-A receptor?
A. Direct agonist at the GABA binding site
B. Irreversible inhibitor of GABA transaminase
C. Competitive antagonist
D. Positive allosteric modulator
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Benzodiazepines bind to an allosteric site on the GABA-A
receptor, increasing the frequency of chloride channel opening in the presence of GABA.
