NEUR 3304 Final Exam Questions With Complete Solutions
Can vasopressin bind to oxytocin receptors, and vice versa?
Correct Answers YES - Cross-activate receptors due to
similarities
Do animals need steroid hormones once maternal behaviour is
established? Correct Answers NO - Once maternal behaviour is
established, hormones are not needed to maintain the behaviour
Do you have to give birth to be maternal? Correct Answers NO
- Virgin rats are not maternal unless given extensive experience
with pups (sensitization), while female rats show full maternal
behaviour on birth of their first pup. Thus, pups do NOT have to
go through the birth canal to be maternal, however they do
undergo hormonal changes
Explain the difference between females and males in how the
expend their energy in terms of parental care Correct Answers
Females: Once pregnant, all energy from that time point on is
dedicated to the baby both in utero and outside the womb, as
well as meeting her own energetic demands
Males: Direct most of their energies into finding mates
Thus, females put in a greater amount of effort in terms of
parental care as compared to males
Explain the hormone profile of rats during pregnancy Correct
Answers Progesterone: Begins to increase upon fertilization,
however drops substantially 2-3 days before birth.
, Estradiol: Like progesterone, levels rise following fertilization,
and a massive surge is seen 2-3 days before birth.
Prolactin: Levels remain low until 2-3 days before birth.
Prolactin levels are tied to oxytocin levels.
Explain the pathway regarding the SCN and circadian rhythm
Correct Answers Retinal ganglion cells (M1-type) integrate
light information coming from rods and cones. When activated,
opsin protein is released which further causes glutamate release
--> Send information down retinal hypothalamic tract to SCN
where the cells are activated --> SCN then releases NTs that
have a wide variety of function
Explain the process of how you fall asleep / stay awake Correct
Answers Stay awake: Light hits retina --> Retina sends info to
SCN --> SCN sends info through relays travelling to PVN, then
to brainstem and spinal cord, and back to pineal gland that
inhibits the release of melatonin
Fall asleep: Light stops hitting retina --> Inhibition on
melatonin-secreting cells will be removed --> Melatonin is
produced
Explain the process of the CLOCK genes Correct Answers PER
genes and Cryto Crohns are being turned out by the nucleus of
cells. They produce mRNAs --> Translated into proteins -->
Dimerize with each other (PER + CRY) --> Inhibit proteins
called BMAL1 and CLOCK --> Stimulation of CRY and PER
decreases
Can vasopressin bind to oxytocin receptors, and vice versa?
Correct Answers YES - Cross-activate receptors due to
similarities
Do animals need steroid hormones once maternal behaviour is
established? Correct Answers NO - Once maternal behaviour is
established, hormones are not needed to maintain the behaviour
Do you have to give birth to be maternal? Correct Answers NO
- Virgin rats are not maternal unless given extensive experience
with pups (sensitization), while female rats show full maternal
behaviour on birth of their first pup. Thus, pups do NOT have to
go through the birth canal to be maternal, however they do
undergo hormonal changes
Explain the difference between females and males in how the
expend their energy in terms of parental care Correct Answers
Females: Once pregnant, all energy from that time point on is
dedicated to the baby both in utero and outside the womb, as
well as meeting her own energetic demands
Males: Direct most of their energies into finding mates
Thus, females put in a greater amount of effort in terms of
parental care as compared to males
Explain the hormone profile of rats during pregnancy Correct
Answers Progesterone: Begins to increase upon fertilization,
however drops substantially 2-3 days before birth.
, Estradiol: Like progesterone, levels rise following fertilization,
and a massive surge is seen 2-3 days before birth.
Prolactin: Levels remain low until 2-3 days before birth.
Prolactin levels are tied to oxytocin levels.
Explain the pathway regarding the SCN and circadian rhythm
Correct Answers Retinal ganglion cells (M1-type) integrate
light information coming from rods and cones. When activated,
opsin protein is released which further causes glutamate release
--> Send information down retinal hypothalamic tract to SCN
where the cells are activated --> SCN then releases NTs that
have a wide variety of function
Explain the process of how you fall asleep / stay awake Correct
Answers Stay awake: Light hits retina --> Retina sends info to
SCN --> SCN sends info through relays travelling to PVN, then
to brainstem and spinal cord, and back to pineal gland that
inhibits the release of melatonin
Fall asleep: Light stops hitting retina --> Inhibition on
melatonin-secreting cells will be removed --> Melatonin is
produced
Explain the process of the CLOCK genes Correct Answers PER
genes and Cryto Crohns are being turned out by the nucleus of
cells. They produce mRNAs --> Translated into proteins -->
Dimerize with each other (PER + CRY) --> Inhibit proteins
called BMAL1 and CLOCK --> Stimulation of CRY and PER
decreases
