SAGE Journal Articles
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Summary: The article reviews research on local anesthetics used in dental practice. These anesthetics act by blocking the sodium channels that are necessary to initiate the action potential.
Questions to Consider: [Critical thinking questions based on the article to gauge student comprehension and analysis]
- How does the charge of the anesthetic compound change its mechanism of action in blocking sodium channels?
- How does an inactivated sodium channel differ from a closed sodium channel?
- What is meant by voltage-clamping, and how is this used as a research tool?
Summary: This article summarizes research that suggests that serotonin autoreceptors limit increased serotonin levels as a function of SSRI treatment. It is suggested that future antidepressant treatment regimens may require blockade of these autoreceptors.
Questions to Consider:
- What is an SSRI, and what effects would it have on serotonin levels in the synapse?
- How might regional differences in autoreceptor distribution aid future treatment strategies for depression?
- Which of the autoreceptors seems most effective at restraining elevations in levels of serotonin as a function of SSRI treatment?
Summary: The paper describes the ways in which the dopamine pathways of the hypothalamus interact with prolactin secreted by the pituitary.
Questions to Consider:
- How is the regulation of prolactin secretion different from other pituitary hormones?
- What effects does dopamine have on the cells that produce prolactin?
- How does prolactin regulate dopamine production within the hypothalamus?