L20 - synapses and neurotransmission Flashcards
synapse
point where electrical signals move from one neurone to another
electrical synapse
pre and post SN directly connected by gap junctions (2nM)
chemical synapse
- pre and post SN physically separated by cleft
- pre SN release chemical transmitter from their axon terminals
- NT binds to receptors on post
gap junctions in electrical synapses
- 2nM
- formed by connexons
- direct passage of ions + small molecules through these channels
- quick signals
features of chemical synapsis
- pre SN
- post SN
- synaptic cleft
- pre S terminal has vesicles with NT
3 types of synapses in CNS
- axo- dendritic
- axo- somatic
- axo- axonal
axo-dendritic synapse
one neuron’s axon sends signals to another neuron’s dendrite
axo-somatic
when one neurones axon sends signals to another cell body
axo-axonal
when one neurones axon sends signals to another neurones axon
describe pre sn
vesicles arranged at active zones
describe post SN
- specialised
- contains clusters of NT receptors and signalling molecules
what is a NT?
chemical messenger
what are NT released by?
- when A.P reaches terminal, there is influx of sodium ions causing depol
- activates calcium channels
- strong electrochemical gradient which moves calcium to terminal
- ca2+ enters cell and interacts with synaptotagmin, which interacts with snare proteins
- vesicles fuse with pre membrane
- exocytosis
- enter cleft
- bind to receptors
what happens to unbound NT or after job is done?
- degradation
- diffusion away from receptor
- reuptake via pre sn
- enzymatically transformed into inactive substances
what can NT’s be classified into?
- amines
- a.a
- peptides
- purines
2 types of NT receptors?
- ionitropic
- metabotopic
describe ionitropic receptors
- ligand (transmitter) gated ion channel- e.g ACh, GABA, dopamine
- transmembrane proteins open for ions like Na+
- excitatory or inhibitory
describe metabotropic receptors
- G protein coupled receptors
- ligand binds
- G protein activates second messenger cascade
cholinergic transmission at neuromuscular junction
- synapse between motor neurone and skeletal muscle
- junction is motor endplate
- uses ACh as NT
suffix -ergic
applies to neurone that release NT (e.g dopaminergic neurone)
synthesis and degradation of ACh
- ACh is synthesised in pre SN by choline acetyltransferase
- metabolised by acetylcholinesterase
what does ACh act on?
nicotinic (ion channels) and muscarinic receptors (GPCR)
glutamate
- main excitatory transmitter in CNS
- activates inotropic and metabotropic receptors
GABA
- main inhibitory transmitter in CNS
- activates small family of ionotropic and metabotropic receptors