Drugs and the Neuroscience

At what rate does GHB degrade into GABA in the brain?

Dr. Arnold studies endogenous GHB production in the brain. What does he determine is the relationship between GHB and GABA?

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is both a drug and a neurotransmitter that has what type of effects on the central nervous system (CNS)?

What criminal act is most often associated with GHB use?

Dan was prosecuted for the illegal synthesis and disruption of GHB. What household item was listed in the court documents as a precursor chemical for GHB synthesis?

Researchers first synthesized GHB in 1960 as part of an effort to develop compounds that have a similar chemical structure to the neurotransmitter ____.

Dr. Arnold scours the literature and finds that beyond the GHB receptor, studies indicate that GHB functions as an agonist for the ____ receptor (Diana et al., 1991; Pistis et al., 2005).

Early pharmacological studies found that GHB elicits a unique sleeping pattern that is characterized by ____.

Why do authorities often have a difficult time verifying the use of GHB in sexual assault cases?

The oral delivery of GHB is the most common route of delivery used in sexual assault cases. Why might this be?

Graduate student Darryl adds DrugX to the bathing media of his neuronal cultures and finds strong depletion of GHB. What was a likely target of this drug?

Which statement regarding GHB is true?

Why is the GHB derivative sodium oxybate an effective treatment for narcolepsy?

Sodium GHB is used for the treatment of ____.

Dr. Arnold analyzes the results of an experiment exploring the interaction of GHB with its receptor. What is Dr. Arnold likely to find?

Dr. Arnold performs an immunocytochemical stain to determine the localization of GHB receptors. What is he likely to find?

In the body, naturally occurring GHB is a metabolite of ____.

Dr. Arnold is excited to discover the relationship between GHB and dopamine release. What does he find?

Dr. Arnold studies endogenous GHB production and storage in the brain. He determines that the relationship between GHB and GABA storage is that they are stored ____.

Dr. Bennett lectures on the function of prodrugs, which are converted to active metabolites in the body. She describes the final step in the conversion of prodrug 1,4-butanediol to GHB. What pathway does she describe?