Lec 12: Electrical Signals II Flashcards

1
Q

AP propagation aka

A

(conduction)

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2
Q

(AP propagation/conduction)

APs move…

A

down the axon from the point of origin (usually the Axon Hillock region)

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3
Q

(AP propagation/conduction)

The depolarization at one region will

A

spread passively to surrounding regions

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4
Q

(AP propagation/conduction)
- The magnitude of the initial depolarization is…

  • This is known as…
A
  • lower at sites distant from the initial site.

- “electrotonic spread” or “passive spread” and it’s distance is determined by the length (space) constant, Lambda

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5
Q

(AP propagation/conduction)
- Lambda =

  • and is determined by: (2)
A

= the distance it takes for the voltage response to decay to 37% of its original magnitude

  1. ) Axon diameter
  2. ) Presence or absence of myelination
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6
Q

(AP propagation/conduction)
- Passive electrotonic spread of the depolarization is not

  • The take home message is that
A
  • AP conduction, but helps to explain it

- depolarizations spread passively to surrounding regions!

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7
Q

(AP propagation/conduction of an Unmyelinated Axon)

5 Steps:

A
  1. ) At the start, the membrane is completely polarized
  2. ) (Passive depolarization spreads) When the action potential is initiated, a region of the membrane depolarizes. The adjacent regions become depolarized
  3. ) When the adjacent region is depolarized to its threshold, an action potential starts there.
  4. ) Depolarization occurs due to the outward flow of K+ ions. The depolarization spreads forwards, triggering an action potential. (The AP may be able to travel in reverse?)
  5. ) Depolarization spreads forward, repeating the process
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8
Q

(In the 5th step of AP propagation/conduction of an Unmyelinated Axon)
- The AP does not…

  • because it is…
  • However, passive spread is important in…
A
  • fade (decay) like the passive spread of depolarization
  • regenerated (in an “all or none” fashion) at successive regions along the axon
  • setting up the AP from one region to the next region
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9
Q

(Anatomy of myelinated axon)
- Made up of…

  • Each sheath is…
  • Acts to…
    & this: (2)
  • Performed by: (2)
  • The gaps between sheaths are the…
  • Myelination allows for…
  • Note that the ____ ____ __ ______ are present only at…
A
  • Multiple intermittently spaced sheaths of membranes wrapped around the axon
  • spaced evenly along the axon length.
  • insulate
    1. ) Increases resistance
    2. ) Decreases capacitance
  1. ) Oligodendrocytes in CNS
  2. ) Schwann cells in PNS
  • Nodes of Ranvier
  • more rapid conduction velocities
  • voltage-gated Na+ channels, the Node!
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10
Q

(AP propagation/conduction of an Myelinated Axon)

5 Steps:

A
  1. ) In myelinated neurons, an action potential is triggered at the axon hillock, just before the start of the myelin sheath. The depolarization then spreads along the axon.
  2. ) Due to myelination, the depolarization spreads passively to the next node
  3. ) The next node reaches its threshold, and a new action potential is generated
  4. ) The cycle is repeated, triggering an action potential at the next node
  5. ) The process continues.. resulting in Saltatory Conduction
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11
Q

(In the 2nd step of AP propagation/conduction of an Myelinated Axon)
- The depolarization passively spreads…

  • because…
  • The passive spread is sufficient to…
A
  • further along the axon in a myelinated vs. an unmyelinated axon
  • the insulating myelin sheath prevents current leakage and effectively increases the lambda.
  • bring the next node to above threshold level allowing for the AP to “skip” from node to node
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12
Q

How is the electrical signal transmitted from cell to cell?

A

Synapses (located at the terminal branches of axon)

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13
Q

2 Types of Synapses:

A
  1. ) Electrical (cells are “electrically coupled”)

2. ) Chemical (uses a neurotransmitter)

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14
Q

All synapses have at least __ cells

& what are they?

A
  • 2 cells:
  1. ) Presynaptic cell
  2. ) Postsynaptic cell

(with Synaptic cleft = space in between the 2 cells)

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15
Q

Synaptic cleft =

A

= space in between the 2 cells

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16
Q

(Electrical Synapse)
1.) Involves…

  1. ) Composed of…
  2. ) The channel (“hemichannel”) of each pore (connexon) is…
  3. ) Each pore is composed of…
  4. ) Depolarization (AP) in one cell will…
  5. ) Important in…
A
  1. ) Gap Junctions (minimal synaptic cleft, 3.5 nm)
  2. ) pores that connect the cytoplasm of one cell to the next
  3. ) matched with the channel of a pore on the adjacent cell
  4. ) 6 protein subunits known as a connexin
  5. ) spread to the next electrically coupled cell
  6. ) cardiac muscle and some CNS synapses
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17
Q

(Chemical Synapse)
1.) AP in presynaptic cell (neuron) initiates…

  1. ) Neurotransmitter (chemical ligand) diffuses…
  2. ) Upon binding, the receptor initiates…
A
  1. ) the release of neurotransmitter (from synaptic vesicles) into the synaptic cleft (at presynaptic membrane of terminal bulb).
  2. ) across the cleft and binds to a specific receptor on the postsynaptic cell membrane (neuron or effector organ) (#2 in diagram).
  3. ) an electrical event (depolarization or hyperpolarization) that begins at post synaptic membrane of the postsynaptic cell (could be a multistep process) (#3 & #4 in diagram).
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18
Q

4 Types Different Neurotransmitters Discussed:

  • Each presynaptic cell has only…
  • Thus that cell is always either…
A
  1. ) Acetylcholine
  2. ) Catecholamines
  3. ) Amino Acids & derivatives
  4. ) Neuropeptides
  • one main neurotransmitter
  • excitatory or inhibitory
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19
Q

Acetylcholine is important in…

excitatory or inhibitory?

A
  • PNS

- (excitatory)

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20
Q

Catecholamines function as…

excitatory or inhibitory?

A
  • adrenalin-related compounds

- excitatory or inhibitory responses

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21
Q

4 Types of Amino acids & derivatives (Neurotransmitters):

Where they function?
(excitatory or inhibitory?)

A

GABA: CNS (inhibitory)
Glycine: CNS (inhibitory)
Serotonin: CNS (excitatory)
Glutamate: CNS (excitatory

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22
Q

Neuropeptides are…

  • with Hundreds of…
  • Frequently…
    Examples: (2)
A
  • small peptides
  • different molecules (have long lasting effects)
  • coexist with other neurotransmitters
  • Ex: endorphins, enkephalins
23
Q

Neurotransmitter Steps: (8)

A
  1. ) An action potential arrives at the presynaptic terminal bulb, resulting in a transient depolarization
  2. ) Depolarization opens voltage-gated calcium channels, allowing calcium ions to rush into the terminal
  3. ) Increasing calcium in the terminal bulb induces the secretion of some neurosecretory vesicles.
  4. ) Prolonged stimulation mobilizes additional, reserve vesicles.
  5. ) Neurotransmitter diffused across the synaptic cleft to the receptors on the postsynaptic cell.
  6. ) Binding of neurotransmitter to the receptor alters its properties
  7. ) Channels open, letting ions flow into the postsynaptic cell. Depending on the ion, channel opening leads to either depolarization or hyperpolarization.
  8. ) If sufficient depolarization occurs, an action potential will result in the postsynaptic cell
24
Q

(AP induced neurotransmitter release)

At presynaptic cell: (3)

A
  1. ) AP causes voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in the membrane to open at the terminal bulb
  2. ) Ca2+ diffuses into the cell and causes synaptic vesicles to fuse to the presynaptic membrane
  3. ) Neurotransmitter is released into the cleft
25
Q

(AP induced neurotransmitter release)

At postsynaptic cell: (2)

A

1.) Neurotransmitter binds to its receptor

  1. ) Induces a change in membrane conductance
    - Excitatory (EPSP – excitatory postsynaptic potential)
    - Inhibitory (IPSP – inhibitory postsynaptic potential)
    - EPSPs and IPSPs are graded potentials (not APs)
26
Q

Mechanism of synaptic vesicle docking and fusion =

A

“Stimulus-secretion Coupling” Regulated Secretion

27
Q

(Mechanism of synaptic vesicle docking and fusion) (“Stimulus-secretion Coupling” Regulated Secretion)
The synaptic vesicles…

A

fuse with the presynaptic membrane via Ca2+-induced exocytosis

28
Q

3 main sets of vesicles are present in the terminal bulb:

Each vesicle is associated with…

A
  1. ) Undocked (far from the membrane)
  2. ) Docked (close to the membrane) – held by tethering proteins
  3. ) Docked and primed (close to the membrane and ready for release)

…several membrane bound proteins

29
Q

Particularly important parts on the vesicle are: (2)

A

1.) v-SNARES (vesicle SNAP receptor):
Synaptobrevin (VAMP) (in this example)

2.) Synaptotagmin (the putative Ca2+ sensor)

30
Q

(Vesicle Docking (tethering))

Priming involves the interactions of: (2)

A
  1. ) v-SNAREs (vesicle-SNAP Receptor)

2. ) t-SNARES (target-SNAP Receptors)

31
Q

(Synaptic Vesicle Priming)
- Synaptic vesicles associate with…

  • Examples of t-SNAREs include…
  • Upon interaction of v-SNAREs and t-SNARES the vesicles are…
  • v-SNAREs bind to…
A
  • the pre-synaptic membrane via the v-SNAREs and the t-SNAREs (located at the presynaptic membrane).
  • SNAP-25 and Syntaxin (SYX)
  • “primed” for release
  • t-SNAREs which positions the vesicle very close to the cell membrane
32
Q

(Vesicle Docking, Priming & Fusion)

4 Steps:

A
  1. ) The proper vesicle is recognized and bound by particular membrane-anchored tethering proteins
  2. ) A Rab GTPase bound to the incoming vesicle stimulates association of v-SNARE with t-SNARE
  3. ) Membrane fusion is promoted by the interaction of v-SNARE with t-SNARE
  4. ) Binding of NSF and SNAPs promotes dissociation of the SNARE complex
33
Q

(Vesicle Docking, Priming & Fusion)
Explained in 4 details:
1.) Tethering proteins help…

  1. ) The v-SNARE interacts with…
  2. ) The primed vesicle and membrane are thought to…
  3. ) In neurons, step 3 (fusion) is…
A
  1. ) hold the vesicles in position (docking)
  2. ) the t-SNAREs (syntaxin and SNAP25) bringing the vesicle membrane in close proximity to the presynaptic membrane (priming)
  3. ) possibly create an “unstable intermediate” or a “fusion stalk”
  4. ) the Ca2+-dependent step
34
Q

(Vesicle Dynamics)
1.) The AP induces…

  1. ) The Ca2+ binds to…
  2. ) This triggers…
  3. ) The contents of the vesicle (i.e., neurotransmitter) is…
A
  1. ) an influx of Ca2+
  2. ) synaptotagmin
  3. ) the vesicle membrane to fuse with the cell membrane.
  4. ) released into the synaptic cleft.
35
Q

Toxins that interfere with vesicle release: (3)

A
  1. ) Botulinum toxin (botox)
  2. ) Tetanus toxin
  3. ) Presynaptic blockers (inhibitors) of neurotransmission
36
Q

(Botulinum toxin (botox))
1.) Causes…

  1. ) From…
  2. ) Botulinim toxins B,D,F and G will…
  3. ) Botulinum toxins A & E will…
  4. ) Botulinum toxin C1 will…
  5. ) Results in…
A
  1. ) botulism poisoning
  2. ) the bacterium Clostridium botulinum
  3. ) cleave synaptobrevin (VAMP, the v-SNARE)
  4. ) cleave SNAP-25 (t-SNARE)
  5. ) cleave Syntaxin (t-SNARE)
  6. ) paralysis
37
Q

(Tetanus toxin)
1.) From the…

  1. ) Will…
  2. ) Results in…
A
  1. ) bacterium Clostridium tetani
  2. ) Cleave synaptobrevin (v-SNARE)
  3. ) rigid spasms due to effects in the CNS
38
Q

After release, the neurotansmitters…

A

diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic cell.

39
Q

Neurotransmitter Receptor Classes: (2)

A
  1. ) Ionotropic: the receptor is a channel
  2. ) Metabotropic: the receptor communicates with a channel indirectly via some second messenger system (example G-protein)
40
Q

Ionotropic Receptor Examples: (2)

A
  1. ) Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR)

2. ) GABAa receptor

41
Q

(Ionotropic Receptor Example/Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR)
1.) Is a large…

  1. ) Normal ligand =
  2. ) Can also be…
  3. ) Will…
  4. ) Found at…
  5. ) Can be bound and inhibited by: (3)
A
  1. ) ligand-gated Na+ channel
  2. ) = acetylcholine (neurotransmitter)
  3. ) activated by nicotine (agonist)
  4. ) Induce depolarization of postsynaptic cell (EPSP), (see ENa+)
  5. ) the NMJ
  6. ) - a-bungarotoxin
    - Cobratoxin
    - Postsynaptic blockers or inhibitors (antagonists) of neurotransmission
42
Q

(Ionotropic Receptor Example/GABAa receptor)
1.) Is a…

  1. ) Normal ligand =
  2. ) Opening of…
  3. ) Result in…
  4. ) Found in…
  5. ) Valium (Diazopam) enhances…
    - Resulting in…
A
  1. ) Ligand-gated Cl- channel
  2. ) = GABA (neurotransmitter)
  3. ) the Cl- channel leads to hyperpolarization (see ECl-)
  4. ) an IPSP (decreasing the chance that the postsynaptic cell will fire and AP)
  5. ) the brain
  6. ) the effect of GABA by binding to the GABAA receptor (allosteric interaction)
    - CNS depression
43
Q

Metabotropic Receptor Example:

A

GABAb receptor (GABA is neurotransmitter)

44
Q

(Metabotropic Receptor Example/GABAb receptor)
1.) Is a…

  1. ) Indirectly leads to…
  2. ) Results in…
  3. ) Found in…
  4. ) Activation results in…
A
  1. ) G-protein coupled receptor
  2. ) opening of a K+ channel results in hyperpolarization (see EK+)
  3. ) an IPSP (decreasing the chance that the postsynaptic cell will fire and AP)
  4. ) the brain
  5. ) CNS depression
45
Q

(Postsynaptic Potentials)
1.) The electrical potentials induced by…

  1. ) Always…
  2. ) Occur usually at…
  3. ) May be…
  4. ) Or may be…

6.) They are additive in…
(+ 2 examples)

A
  1. ) neurotransmitters binding to specific neurotransmitter receptors.
  2. ) graded potentials (i.e., not APs)
  3. ) Dendrites or Soma.
  4. ) excitatory (depolarizing towards threshold) – Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials (EPSPs).
  5. ) inhibitory (hyperpolarizing away from threshold) – Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials (IPSPs)
  6. ) time and space (temporal spatial summation)
    - Spatial Summation
    - Temporal Summation
46
Q

The activation state of the postsynaptic cell is determined by

A

the net influence of all of the excitatory and inhibitory influences that are active.

47
Q

Each IPSP and EPSP is a

A

graded potential that summate with all other inputs in the temporal spatial manner.

48
Q
  • Incoming electrical signals at the dendrites and the soma are…
  • Not…
  • May be…
  • They spread to…
  • They decay with…
  • However, they are…
  • If a sufficient level of depolarization occurs in the soma and dendrites such that the axon hillock depolarizes to the threshold value, then…
A
  • graded potentials (IPSP and EPSP)
  • APs
  • fairly large
  • adjoining regions passively
  • time and distance
    (Length constant, lambda/Time constant, t)
  • additive summation
  • an AP will be generated there and then propagated along the axon
49
Q

Why can’t the dendrites or soma fire APs?

A

????

Therefore, the AP is generally initiated at the Axon Hillock???

50
Q

Review Neuron Regions (Functional Perspective) chart

A

screenshottttt

51
Q

Review Postsynaptic Potentials vs Action Potentials chart

A

screenshottttt

52
Q
  1. ) Neurotransmitters must be…
  2. ) In order to…
  3. ) Example:
  4. ) Located in…
A
  1. ) inactivated (or eliminated)
  2. ) prevent prolonged activation of the postsynaptic cell, neurotransmitters are degraded at the synapse
  3. ) Ex: acetylcholinesterase cleaves Ach into Acetate and choline
  4. ) the synaptic cleft or on the extracellular surface of the postsynaptic membrane
53
Q
  • GABA & Glutamate can be…

Take home message =

A
  • transported into neurons and glia at synapses, eleminating them from the synaptic cleft.

= Neurotransmitters can be removed from the synapse by transport into cells (neurons and glia). Not all neurotransmitters are simply degraded like Ach.