central synapses Flashcards

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1
Q

explain how a patch clam functions

A

micropippet 0.5-1um presses against cell membrane

short burst of suction ruptures membrane allowing for measurements and voltage control of internal membrane

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2
Q

Chemical transmitters diversity:

A

Acetylcholine
Amines- including noradrenaline, dopamine & serotonin
Amino acids- including glutamate & glycine
Soluble gases- including nitric oxide (NO)

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3
Q

what is dales rule/hypothesis?

A

all axonal branches of a neuron release the same neurotransmitters (single or multiple)
co-release often short neurotransmitter and longer modulatory neurotransmitter also H+ ion release

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4
Q

state proportions of CNS synapses that use glutimate and GABA

A

Around half of the synapses in the CNS use glutamate which bar glu5 metabotropic receptors are excitatory.
Around a quarter of synapses in CNS use GABA which has exclusively inhibitory effects in adults

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5
Q

Cortical synapses can be classified into two types:

A

Gray’s type 1 have round vesicles and asymmetrical membrane specializations probably mainly glutaminergic synapses.
Gray’s type 2 have flattened vesicles and symmetric membranes. These are probably mainly GABAergic

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6
Q

which glutimate receptors mediate basal transmission

A

Basal glutamatergic transmission is largly mediated AMPA/Kainate receptors

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7
Q

how do NBQX and APV affect glutamatergic transmission

A

NBQX blocks AMPA/kainate receptors APV blocks NMDA receptors

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8
Q

Many synapses may release only one vesicle on average for a presynaptic action potential
-> post synaptic responses can be weak yet variable
A single EPSP is normally not sufficient to pass threshold potential hence to trigger a post synaptic action potential usually requires:

A

Thus temporal summation is needed to cause downstream AP
Or spatial summation
Obvious overlap

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9
Q

Trains of AP can cause facilitation or depression of synaptic release how can this occur?

A

Residual Ca2+ in presynaptic terminal increase release probability
Vesicle fusion reduces number of possible release sites, until a new vesicle can be primed for release
Synaptic short term dynamics vary across synapses , even for the same axon targeting different post synaptic neurons.

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10
Q

comment about How GABAergic inhibition occurs and diverity of receptors

A

GABA-A receptors are permeable to CL- ions and HCO3-
GABA receptors are cys loop family pentamers
At least 16 known subunit forms
GABA taken ub by glia and neurons rather than extracellular breakdown
60% GABA2 receptor type
Glutamate must be made then converted to GABA

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11
Q

where are most GABAergic synapses located?

A

Gaba ergic synapses occur predominantly on the soma and proximal dendrites.
Perisomatic GABAergic synapses are ideally placed to veto action potentials

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12
Q

how do benzodiazipans affect GABAergic transmission

A

Synaptic theta subunits containing GABA-ARs are sensitive to benzodiazepines hence the downer effect of drugs.
Benzodiazepines increase frequency of channel opening also slow down the decay of synaptic effects

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13
Q

similarities and differences between transmission at the NMJ and centeral synapses

A

similarities:
transmission is quantal in nature
ligand gated ion channels

differences
central synapses normally only release 1 vesicle
inhibitory and exititory
short term facilitation/depression affects central synaptic communication more
non cholinergic transmission is usualy terminated by diffusion and re-uptake

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14
Q

explain the general cholinergic projections within the brain

A

Diffuse projections form basal forebrain and from pontine nucleus
Pontine nucleus sends ascending projections to hippocampus and cerebellum

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15
Q

why in Parkinson’s disease can benztropine be helpful in relief of tremor

A

Parkinson’s disease benztropine helpful in relief of tremor probably because of cholinergic projections and interneurons in the ventral striatum(part of the basal ganglia)

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16
Q

explain the role a path of most seretonergic projections in the brain

A

Raphe nuclei project into cortex and also into spinal cord

Involved in regulating ‘mood’ and gating pain perception

17
Q

outline the main dopaminergic projections pathways in the brain

A

Substantia nigra -> dorsal striatum (nigo-striatal pathway)
Two projections from ventral tegmental area
One to parts of striatum hippocampus/amygdala
And another cortical pathway primarily frontal pathway
Fourth pathway not on figure projects from arc nucleus and hippocampus projects into bloodstream portal system acts on pituitary gland

18
Q

What function does dopamine have in the brain?

A

High dopamine levels for initiating behaviour also burst firing once reward obtained regulate prolactin release thought to be important in positive reinforcement.
Parkinson’s disease selective damage neurodegeneration in substantia nigra- means less power to instigate voluntary movement.

19
Q

what are the two main pathways of noradrenaline in the CNS

A

Ascending projections from locus serilius
Mesh of neurons in the lateral tegmental area of the spinal cord project down into the spinal cord and into the cerebellum.

20
Q

how is noradrenaline synthesized?

A

Noradrenaline synthesized from dopamine by dopamine beta hydroxylase

21
Q

what are central adrenergic receptors in the brain and what therapeutic treatments work on these?

A

Alpha 1&2 and beta 1&2
Beta- adrenoreceptors (propanol) are anti anxiety
Depression- noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (reboxetine & phenelzine)

22
Q

what is the main advantage of neuromodulation by metabotropic GPCRs? commonalities in how it functions:

A

ability to amplify a signal
often conformational change in 3rd cytosolic loop
PKA of then used to phosphorylate receptors/ ion channels
Neuromodulation can occur from non synaptic varicosities along the axon which can release neurotransmitter into the general extracellular space

23
Q

how can non LTP neuromodulation occur?

A

presynaptic metabotropic receptors can modulate probability of vesicle release
Peri and extra synaptic metabotropic receptors can modulate a neurons response to synaptic input by:
-Directly modulating the properties of the synaptic receptors
-opening / closing k+ channels to alter a neurons excitability
-Can alter the neurotransmitter uptake properties of near by astrocytes

24
Q

High frequency tetanus’ increase likelihood of synaptic responses in the PSN initially by a very large amount then the effect stabilizes this stabilizing is causes by LTP how does this occur?

A

Induction of LTP is mediated by NMDA receptors allows Ca2+ transmission
Mg2+ blocks gate acts as a coincidence detector as channels will only conduct if membrane is somewhat depolarised
NMDA receptors increase APMA receptor activity by activating CaMKII