Exam 2: Chapter 13: Synapses Flashcards
What increased the copy number in the doogie mouse?
The over expression of the NR2B genes
Greater activity of the NMDA receptor in the doogie mouse lead to:
- Improved learning and memory
- Improved and strengthened synaptic transmission and connection
- Synaptic plasticity
Synaptic transmission is usually what?
Chemical but can also be electrical
Current flows……
From cell to cell with no delay
Each synapse has a different
Functional role
ELECTRICAL synapses transmit signals…..
Instantaneously
When not polarized, what can happen?
The signal can travel in either direction
What kind of specialization are gap junctions and have far apart are the membranes normally? Why is this unique?
They are structural specializations and the membranes are only 3.5 nm apart, unlike the 20-30 nm that normally lies between cells
What are the subunits that make up gap junctions called? What size pore do they create?
Gap junctions are composed of subunits termed connexons that end up creating a 2 nm pore
How many connexin subunits create a connexon?
6
The 2 nm pore that is created by the connexons within gap junctions are large enough to allow for the passage of ?
Most ions
What can chemical synapses do?
Modify and amplify signals
What size synpatic cleft doesn’t allow for electrical transmission?
A 20-30 nm synaptic cleft
What are the 4 main steps involved in the transmission of an electrical signal?
- The electrical signal is first turned into a chemical signal
- The neurotransmitter then travels from the pore to the postsynaptic region
- The neurotransmitter then binds to receptors there and again an electrical or chemical response occurs
- The synaptic vesicles release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft
How do active zones appear in a synapse or neuron/cell? Why?
Denser or thicker bc postsynaptic densities have a lot of neurotransmitter receptors and scaffolding proteins
Where are more excitatory synapses found in general? In particular?
- In general on neuronal dendrites
- In particular on dendritic spines
What are dendritic spines like in adults?
They remain plastic in the adult with the size and shape changing in response to external stimuli
In chemical synapses, what two receptors can be present?
Both ionotropic and metabotropic receptors can be present
In chemical synapses, which receptors use second messengers?
Metabotropic receptors
How long do fast ionotropic chemical synapses takes?
0.3-3 ms
What is an advantage to the chemical synapse vs the electrical synapse?
Chemical synapses can be both excitatory and inhibitory, whereas electrical is nearly always excitatory
Which type of synapse is one- way? Which type is two way?
Chemical synapses are one way whereas electrical are two way
Chemical synapses allow for what?
For a signal to be amplified
What are 3 main characteristics of chemical synapses?
They are modifiable, allow for plastic change, and aid in learning and memory
What is the role of synaptic transmission?
It controls the excitability of the post- synaptic cells
What are the 3 main steps involved in the transmission of a chemical signal?
- Arrival of neurotransmitter causes a synaptic potential changing the resting potential on the post- synaptic cell
- Depolarization is excitatory causing an increase in the impulse frequency
- Hyperpolarization is then inhibitory causing the reverse and bringing the membrane back down to its resting potential
Which type of neuron is a good example of the functions of fast synaptic potentials? Why is this?
Synapses onto a spinal motor neuron
Over how many depolarizations are considered to be excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs)?
10-20 ms
For EPSPs, how much voltage is enough to depolarize the membrane?
Less than 1 mV
With EPSPs, repeated signals can be additive and lead to what?
They can create a summation and if it is high enough it can cause depolarization
For EPSPs, what dictates whether a temporal or spatial summation will occur?
It depends on whether one or several nerves are stimulated
What happens if EPSPs and IPSPs happen at the same time?
They can reduce or cancel each other out
In what ways are IPSPs and EPSPs similar?
For both, hyperpolarization is caused and both can have temporal or spatial summation
Since a cat motor neuron may receive signals from 10K synapses, what must its body do?
It must balance our responses to signals
What is neuronal integration?
The spatial and temporal summation of EPSPs and IPSPs
How do synapses excite or inhibit a neuron?
By depolarization or hyperpolarization at the site of impulse initiation
What is unique about an axosomatic synapse?
It is a short distance from the site of impulse initiation so there is little decrease in the signal
What is unique about an axodendritic synapse?
It maybe 200um from the axon hillock so it can lose 14-37% of its signal
What do synaptic potentials control?
Neuronal excitability
Where are fast chemical synaptic actions exemplified?
Vertebrae neuromusclar junctions
What is a peripheral synapse?
The neuromuscular junction (motor- end plate)
In a peripheral synapse, how many motor neurons are there per muscle fiber?
1
What does the peripheral synapse function as?
A relay synapse
How does a peripheral synapse work?
Each action potential of the motor neuron initiates a EPSP in the muscle fiber, causing a muscle contraction to take place
How do chemical synapses work?
By releasing and responding to neurotransmitters
What happens in the chemical synapse in the vertebrae neuromuscular junction?
- First Ca2+ enters the presynaptic gated channels
- This signals vesicles to fuse and release ACh into the synaptic cleft
- Neurotransmitter crosses the synaptic cleft and enters the post- synaptic area
- Neurotransmitter binds to specific receptors on post- synaptic surface
- Channel opens enabling ion flow to start resulting an EPSP, which, if large enough, will depolarize the muscle fiber and initiate muscle contraction
What do postsynaptic potentials result from?
Permeability changes that are neurotransmitter- dependent and voltage- independent
What do ligand- gated channels control?
Permeability changes
When do ligand- gated channels open?
They open as a result of binding neurotransmitters, not in response to depolarization
What does an EPSP result from in the vertebrae neuromuscular junction?
A simultaneous increase in the postsynaptic membranes permeability to Na+ and K+
In the vertebrae neuromuscular junction, what contributes to the synaptic current (depolarization)?
All the channels that open in response to neurotransmitters
In the vertebrae neuromuscular junction most of the synaptic current responsible for the ESPS is from where?
Na+
How do EPSPs between neurons and neuromuscular EPSPs compare?
EPSPs between neurons resemble neuromuscular EPSPs but they are smaller
In the vertebrae neuromuscular junction, what is the rise and exponential return of fast EPSPs in the CNS?
Fast EPSPs in the CNS have a rise of 1-2ms and an exponential return of 10-20 ms
How do the mechanism of a neuromuscular synapse and regular CNS excitatory synapse compare?
In a CNS synapse:
- Na+ and K+ are again used, but the neurotransmitter is glutamate - The CNS amplitude is smaller - Less neurotransmitter is released
In a regular CNS synapse, fast IPSPs can result from what?
An increase in permeability to chloride
What is the major mechanism of synaptic inhibition in the CNS?
- Hyperpolarizing results from a an increased permeability to Cl-
- Mechanism is mediated by 2 neurotransmitters, GABA and glycine
Most of the synaptic inhibitory synapses in the brain use what neurotransmitter?
GABA
In the mammalian CNS, what types of synapses are excitatory? Inhibitory?
Type 1 synapses are excitatory and type 2 are inhibitory
Where is acetylcholine synthesized and stored?
In the presynaptic terminal
Availability of choline is a …??
Limiter because it comes from the blood stream. If none is present, synthesis stops