Chemical Signalling Flashcards
outline synaptic transmission.
- AP reaches synaptic terminal
- NTs released and diffuse across synaptic cleft
- receptors recognise NTs and initiate a response
define neuromodulation
alters presynaptic cells ability to release more NT or post-synaptic cells ability to respond
name categories of NT.
- amino acids
- monamines
- acetylchlorine
- neuropeptides
where are classical NTs synthesised and where are neuropeptides synthesised?
classical NTs are synthesised locally in pre-syn terminal whereas neuropeptides are synthesised in the cell soma and transport to the terminal.
what type of transmitter is responsible for fast transmission?
- amino acids
name the difference between excitatory and inhibitory.
excitatory causes the next neurone to fire an impulse whereas inhibitory blocks the next neurone from firing an impulse.
state criteria for NTs
- chemical synthesised pre-synatically
- electrical stimulation leads to the release of the chemical
- chemical produces physiological effect
- terminate activity
outline glutamate synthesis, storage, release and reuptake.
- synthesised in nerve terminals from glucose or glutamine
- loaded and stored in vesicles by vesicular glutamate transporters
- released by exocytosis
- acts at glutamate receptors on post-synaptic membrane
- reuptake by excitatory amino acids transporters in the plasma membrane of pre-synaptic cell and surrounding glia
what can too much glutamate and too little GABA lead to…
hyperexcitatory - epilepsy, excitotoxicity
cereal ischemia - insufficient blood flow
receptors can vary in their pharmacology, define pharmacology.
what transmitter binds to receptor and how drugs interacts varies
describe the difference between agonist and antagonist.
agonist are drugs that can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a cellular reaction, whereas antagonists are a drug that reduces or completely blocks the activity of the agonist.
define kinetics.
rate of transmitter binding and channel gating determine the duration of effects.
define selectivity and conductance.
- what ions are fluxed
- rate of flow
outline fast synaptic transmission.
- glutamate inotropic receptors in general flux Na+ which causes an EPSP depolarising the post-syn neurone.
- GABA ionotropic receptors flux CI- which causes an IPSP hyper-polarising the post-synaptic neurone
- integration of all changes in membrane potential will decide whether a post-synaptic neurone will fire an AP or not.
state ionotropic receptors that respond to glutamate.
NMDA
AMPA
Kainate
defien AMPA.
binding of glutamate leads to the opening of Na+ channels and hence depolarisation.
in NMDA, what happens during the RMP and depolarised membrane?
RMP - glutamate binds, channel opens, blocked by Mg+
depolarised membrane - Mg+ pushed out of pore, channel is open, ion movement, further depolarisation.
which receptor has slower kinetics?
NMDA - channel stays open longer
- requires glycine as a cofactor
- and gated by membrane voltage
describe the association between NMDA and schizophrenia.
NMDA receptors blocked by phencyclidine and MK801 which both bind in one space, producing symptoms that resemble the hallucinations in schizophrenia (reduced NMDAR function).
what causes glutamate excitatoxiticty?
- excessive Ca+ influx into cell which activates calcium dependent proteases and phospholipase that damage cell, can lead to stroke.
outline GABA synthesis, storage, release and reuptake.
- GABA is synthesised from glutamate
- GABA is loaded and stored into synapse by a vesicular GABA transporter
- GABA released by exocytosis
- acts at ionotropic GABAa and metabotropic GABAb receptors o post-synaptic membrane
- cleared from synapse by reuptake using transporters on glia and neurones including non-GABAergic neurones.
what can too much GABA cause?
- sedation/coma
what drug increases the amount of available GABA?
GHB - moderate dose like alcohol