Introduction to CNS Pharmacology Flashcards
List the bioelectric properties of nerve cells
- phospholipid membranes are essentially impermeable to ions
- however, several protein families have evolved that function to allow ionic passage across the membrane
What protein families have evolved to allow ionic passage across the membrane
- ion channels: ion movement is allowed, follows concentration gradient
- transporters, ATPase driven pumps
Ion Channels
- integral membrane proteins
- multiple membrane spanning domains
- form a hydrophillic channel in the center
- highly evolved to be selective for ions and to be regulated by changes in the cellular environment
Properties of ion channels
- commonly composed of multiple subunits that are separate gene products
- glycosylated on the extracellular side
- specificity for ions that flow through
- kinase consensus sequences on the intracellular side, thus can be regulated by intracellular signaling
3 functional classifications of ion channels
- passive
- active
- leak
Passive ion channels
non-gated, always open
Active ion channels
- some mechanisms exits for regulation of open/closed states
- Gating mechanisms include
- membrane potential (voltage-gated)
- some extracellular molecules (neurotransmitters)
- other membrane proteins (ex: beta gamma subunits of G proteins
- intracellular molecules (ions ATP)
Leak channels
-A channel that is open at resting membrane potential
-can be active or passive
(All passive channels are leak channels but not all leak channels are passive
Resting Membrane Potential-what is it and why does it exist
- a potential difference (approximately -60 mV relative to the outside of the cell) exists across the membrane of neurons because of the following factors
1. Most intracellular proteins are anions, trapped in the cell
2. there are leak channels in the membrane that allow for movement of potassium and chloride across the membrane
3. conductance (g) of K is about 100x greater than the conductance to Na (bc of many more K leak channels than Na leak channels
What s the result of the resting memebrane potential and conductance of K being 100x greater than Na
there is an unequal distribution of Cl, K and Na across the membrane
-Most Na and Cl are extracellular and most K is intracellular
Electrochemical potential
the chemical difference along with the potential difference in ions means there is an electrochemical potential for these ions
Nernst (equilibrium) potential
- the membrane potential at which an ion is in the electrochemical equilibrium across the membrane
- describes the electrical potential that is required to maintain the E:I ratio
Approximate Nernst potential for the three major ions
K: -90
Na: +50
Cl: -70
how is leak across he membran eopposed
Neurons have a Na/K ATPase pump that moves Na out and K into the cell. This is not enough to se the gradients but opposes leak
Action Potential
- electric impulse transmitted across the plasma membrane
- All or None
- about 100 mV in amplitude and 1-10 msec in duration
- propagated dow the axon through cycles of depolarization and repolarization
Propagation of an action potential primarily involves what 2 channels
- Voltage gated sodium channels
2. Voltage gated potassium channels
How do Voltage-gated sodium channels work?
-depolarization
-voltage gated Na channels open
-increase INA
(this is a cycle)
Equation for I
I=v/R