L12 (C4) Flashcards
how many glia are there per neuron
1-2
Glial cells outnumber neurons in the human brain
Involved in almost all neural functions. what are some of these functions
Brain metabolism
Neuronal survival
Modulate synaptic activity
Communication
what are the key characteristics of neurons
they are excitable cells used for communication
there are 10^11 neurons and 10^14 synapses
they are post mitotic (meaning the neurons we had at birth we will have at death
they have a high metabolic rate (which is supported by glia)
what are the key characteristics of glia
they are not excitable however they can be stimulated by Ca in astrocytes
they main role is support, nutrition and glue but they can communicate with themselves and other neurons
there are 10x more glia than neurons and they make up 50% of the brains volume
they undergo mitosis (regenerate)
what do glia NOT have than neurons do
No chemical synapses,
action potentials,
neurotransmitters
but hey do have glial transmitters
what does oligodendrocytes mean
Greek: Oligos=few; Dendron= tree
tree like structure
what is the main role of oligodendrocytes
myelination and metabolic support
what are satellite oligodendrocytes
they are considered to be part of the gray matter whereas myelinated oligodendrocytes are part of the white matter
their role is to support metabolic function
how can the processes of the oligodendrocytes be recognised and distinguished from the
profiles of axons,
by their electron dense cytoplasm and their closely packed
microtubules.
what is the process of myelination
the order in which things get myelinated
15 - 16 months we have full milination
16 weeks is the starts of milneation
4-6 is he formation of the corpus callosum
Anterior cerebral hemispheres 7 -10 months
Occipital 9-12 months
Parietal 9-12
Temporal lobe 11-14
what was a key driver in evolution
myelination
what are the 4 reasons why myelination is an evolutionary advantage
- Myelination strongly reduces energy consumption
- Rapid impulse propagation/increased conduction velocity
- Muscle control
- Neurotrophic contribution
how is neurotrophic contribution an evolutionary advantage
required for the long-term integrity and survival of axon
how is muscle control an evolutionary advantage
became the basis for the development of complex predatory
and escape behaviour, which ultimately drove body size and vertebrate evolution
This means that we would be able to run faster/respond faster from things that were trying to kill us
how is rapid impulse propagation/increased conduction velocity an evolutionary advantage
allowed complex yet compact higher nervous systems to evolve.
makes APs 10x faster
how is myelination strongly reduces energy consumption an evolutionary advantage
action potentials and ion currents are restricted to less than 0.5% of the axon’s surface.
Myelin strongly reduces energy consumption because it is all focused at one point which also allows for rapid propagation and conduct velocity
what is the difference between myelinated axons in the CNS and the PNS
In the CNS this is the oligodendrocytes. One oligo can myelinate multiple internodes
The swann cells in the PNS only myenate one segment of one neuron
Therefore in the CNS myelination happens around more than one axon and in the PNS a schwann cell will only go around one but can be associated with many
why are very thin axons unmyelinated
In order to be myelinated the acon needs to have a diameter more than 1um because otherwise it won’t have an effect. Therefore small axons won’t be myelinated
naked axons are found where
in the CNS
why are unmyelinated axons in the CNS referred to as naked but unmyelinated in the PNS are not
In the PNS unmyelinated are still surrounded by membrane of the schwann cell. This is because thee swann cell needs to protect the axon therefore its membrane, although it is not completely covering it, they are associated
NOTE: PNS schwann cells are associated with many axons but you don’t completely encase the axon
why is it adventitious in the PNS to have schwann cells associated with many neurons
This is adventitious in the PNS as if one swann cell dies then it will only effect on axon where as in the CNS it will effect multiple
describe the structure of an oligodendrocyte
There is a inner cytoplasmic and a outer cytoplasmic ridge
When you cut away the myelin you can see that it comes in a bit in the nodes. This part is called the parra node
Oligodendrocytes have a wide reach
what causes myeline gene expression
NRG 1 type 3
how does NRG 1 type 3 cause myelin gene expression
When NRG 1 type 3 is expressed in the axon and when it recognised that then it starts a signal cascade cascade which causes myelin gene expression
what is the inner and the outer part of the myelin called
The inner mesaxon is the inner part of the membrane and the otter mesaxon is the outer part
what is important about the myelins thickness
The bigger the diameter the bragger the myelin sheath
if there are issues with the thickness it means means that there is a problem with that axon
what is the g ratio (thickness) for myelin wrapping
0.6 - 0.7