Lecture 3 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the lizard: a case of PD?

A
•  Loss of DA neurons in SN
•  Knowledge of DA transmission integral for Treatment development
–  L-dopa
    •  Symptom loss
    •  Doesn’t stop disease progression
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2
Q

What is resting membrane potential?

A

• Neuron at rest
– Unstimulated/inactive
• Membrane lipid bilayer
– Ions cannot easily cross
• Positively or negatively charged particles
• Unequally distributed across membrane
• Membrane polarized
– Carrying a charge
– -70mV (inside of neuron is 70 mv less than outside)
• Difference in electrical charge inside and outside cell

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3
Q

How is membrane potential recorded?

A

• Intracellular electrode
– Microelectrode
• Extracellular electrodes
• Detect difference between inside and outside of cells

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4
Q

What was the giant squid motor neurons used for?

A

• Used in early studies of resting membrane potential stability
• Hodgkin and Huxley with Eccles won Nobel prize for uncovering ionic mechanism of action potentials
• .5mm diameter (humans is 0.015 mm)
– Large diameter allowed easy electrode insertion
• Terminateonmuscle
• Similar to other multipolar neurons

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5
Q

What is the ionic distribution at rest like?

A

• Sodium (Na+) higher outside
– Membrane extremely resists passage
• Enters by random motion
– Driven inside cell by electrostatic forces and concentration gradient
• Chloride (Cl-) higher outside
– Membrane slightly resists passage
– At equilibrium
• Potassium (K+) higher inside
– Membrane moderately resists passage
– Driven inside cell by electrostatic pressure
– Driven out by concentration gradient
• Negatively charged proteins inside
– Cannot cross membrane

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6
Q

What is random motion?

A

Random motion:
Passage of ions through ion channels
down concentration gradient when neuron at rest

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7
Q

How do ions maintain resting potential?

A

Homogenizing factors
- Concentration gradient
• Tend to equally distribute
• Move from high to low concentration
– Electrostatic pressure
• Like repels like
• Opposites attract
Non-homogenizing factors
– Passive (no energy requirement)
• Random motion
• Due to Selective permeability-ion channels
– At rest:Cl-and K+ PASS READILY
– Active (hi energy requirement)
• Sodium-potassium pumps; maintain stability of RMP in spite of random motion of Na and K down concentration gradients
• Ion distribution returned to rest despite random motion

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8
Q

What are sodium potassium pumps; discovered by H&H?

A

Active transporter
– Energy consuming
Continuously transfer 3Na+ out and 2K+ in

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9
Q

What are postsynaptic potentials?

A

• Create signals in neurons
• Neurotransmitters bind to postsynaptic cell
– Cause electrical change in post synaptic cell
• Excitatory neurotransmitter:
– Depolariza1on (increase ++++)
– Membrane potential less negative
– Excitatory post synaptic potential (EPSP)
» Increase likelihood of AP
• Inhibitory neurotransmitter
– Hyper-polarization (increase—)
– Membrane poten=al more negative
– Inhibitory post synaptic potential (IPSP)
» Decrease likelihood of AP

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10
Q

What are EPSP and IPSP?

A
•  Rapidtransmission
    –  Instantaneous rate of
transmission
      •  Duration can be variable 
        –  due to graded response
•  Graded
    –  Amplitude proportional to
      •  Stronger stimuli produce bigger IPSP or EPSP
        –  Bigger ion influx
        –  Due to increased NT release or receptor signalling
    –  Transmit decrementally 
     •  Passive spread from
synapse (dendrite or soma)
     •  Get weaker as travel (like sound through air)
 signal intensity
      –  Cant travel far (2 mm max)
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11
Q

What is an EPSP?

A

Graded response: amplitude of signal proportional to stimulus intensity
->bigger stimulation = bigger PSP
->larger +ion influx = larger EPSP
Sodium ion flow inward is responsible for the generation of an EPSP

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12
Q

What is an IPSP

A
Graded response: amplitude
of signal proportional to
stimulus intensity
->larger -ion influx = larger IPSP
Chloride ion flow inward is usually responsible for the generation of an IPSP
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13
Q

What is the integration of PSP to generate AP?

A

• Adding or combining signals into one overall output (or inhibition of output)
– One EPSP will not suffice
– Need summation
• Net affect of synaptic activity
• Threshold of excitation at axon hillock (axon initial segment)
– Synapses closer to axon hillock have larger effect on firing due to decremental transmission of far away PSPs
• Many inhibitory inputs
• Some distal dendritic sites have
mechanisms to amplify their PSPs
• integration of inputs must result in about -65 mv at hillock for AP

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14
Q

What is spatial summation?

A
  • Occurs at Axon initial segment (AIS)
  • integration (of EPSP and IPSP) across post synaptic locations
  • local EPSPs or IPSPs occurring simultaneously combine to form larger response (or cancel out to form weaker)
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15
Q

What is temporal summation?

A
  • Integration across time on same synapse
  • Rapid succession
  • Ex. High frequency vs low frequency inputs
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16
Q

What are action potentials?

A
•  Massive
•  Momentary
•  Reversal of membrane potential
    –  -70mV to +50 mV (in 1 msec)
• Does not degrade over space
    –  Due to voltage gated channel
•  All-or-none
   –  Equal strength throughout
   –  Occur as long as threshold of activation reached
   –  Intensity not graded, but frequency increases with more stimulation
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17
Q

How do voltage gated sodium channels generate and propagate APs?

A

• AP=fire, spike
• Threshold for excitation reached by postsynaptic integration at AIS
– Depolarized to at least -65 mv
– Opens voltage-gated ion channels
• Fast reversal of membrane potential
– -70 mvà+50 mv
– 1 msec
• All-or-none/not graded
– Occur to full extent –or– not at all
– Does not change response based off stimulus
• Just frequency

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18
Q

How are APs produced and conducted?

A

Voltage gated ion channels

- Open or close in response to membrane potential

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19
Q

What do ions do in APs?

A

Threshold of excitation
– VG Sodium channels open (rising phase)
• Rush in: electrostatic AND concentration gradient
• Increases membrane potential +50 mv
• Closes vg channel
– VG K+ channels open
• Driven out: electrostatic and concentration gradient
– Membrane repolarized; and slightly hyperpolarized (refractory period)
» K channels close gradually
» Resting potential re-established by random motion of ions and sodium potassium pump.

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20
Q

What is a refractory period?

A

• Absolute
– brief (1msec) post initiation
– Impossible to initiate new AP
in same neuron
– Sodium channels inactivated
– Spreads down axon behind AP
• Prevent backwards movements of AP
– Backwards propogating APs into soma and dendrites from axon hillock
• Limits to firing rate to 1000x per sec max
– Firing rate determined by stimulation intensity (of PSPs)
• Relative
– Follows absolute period
– Requires larger than threshold stimulus to initiate new AP
– More intense stimulation increase firing rate

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21
Q

What is axon conduction of action potentials?

A
•  Active and passive
–  Requires energy
•  Nondecremental
–  Just as strong from beginning (axon
hillock) to end (synaptic terminal)
•  Row of voltage-gated sodium channels
–  Domino effect 
–  Tightly packed
      •  Creates waves of depolarization 
–  Spreading can occur in either
direction
     •  Anterograde: hillock -> boutons
          –  Orthodromic conduction
     •  Retrograde: boutons -> hillock 
     –  Antidromic conduction
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22
Q

What is conduction in myelinated axons?

A

• Instant conduction along myelin=faster
– Ion flow only at nodes
• Saltatory conduction
– Ap jumps node to node
– Requires less energy
– Sodium channels only on nodes
• Passive (rapid and decremental) node to node
– Diminished before next node
• enough to open next node VG- Na+ channel

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23
Q

What is the velocity of axonal conduction?

A

• Faster in large diameter
– Less friction
• Faster in myelinated
• Large & myelinated really fast
– Large motor neurons • 224 MPH (100 m/s)
– VS 1 m/sec IN UNMYELINATED
– VS 25 m/sec IN UNMYELINATED SQUID GIANT MOTOR AXONS
• 100 m/sec in cats; 60 m/ sec in humans

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24
Q

PSP vs AP

A

EPSPs/IPSPs
• Decremental over space and time
• Fast
• Passive (energy is not used)

Action Potentials
• Nondecremental
• Conducted more slowly than PSPs
• Passive and active (use ATP)

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25
What are interneuron APs?
``` • Not well understood • Conduction is Passive and decremental • Function to integrate neural activity in brain structure – Visual cortex • No axons • No AP • Small ```
26
What is the difference between cerebral neurons vs squid motor neurons?
• Hodkin-Huxley model based of squid neurons – Not all cerebral neurons behave the same way • More complex than model motor neurons • Some cerebral neurons: – Fire AP continually without input – Axons actively conduct graded signals and AP – AP duration, frequency and amplitude different across neuron types – Do not display AP – Dendrites can conduct AP • Comparison with motor neurons with caution
27
What are synaptic contacts?
``` • Axodendritic – Axon ->dendrite – Most common • Axosomatic – Axon->soma • Axoaxonic – Axon -> axon – Mediate presynaptic inhibition or facilitation • Selectively influence synapse rather than entire neuron • Dendrodendrtic – Dendrite -> dendrite – Reciprocal • Can be transmitted in either direction • Dendroaxonic – Dendrite -> axon • Directed synapse – Site of NT release close to post synaptic contact – Most common • Undirected synapse – Site of release and contact far – Varicosities • String of beads – Common for monoamines (NE, DA) – Neuroendocrine system releases neurohormones into blood stream ```
28
What are dendrites?
Shaft | Spine
29
What is the chemical transmission of signals?
``` 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. • Neurotransmitter molecules • Early studies on NMJ – Muscles large – Muscles only receive one synapse – Acetylcholine (Ach) 1. AP reaches end of axon terminal 2. Calcium enters cell 3. Release NT into cleft (exocytosis) 4. NT binds receptors 5. Receptors influence post synaptic neurons • Ion permeability (ionotropic) – Create EPSP or IPSP • Intracellular signalling (metabotropic) – Longer lasting 6. NT degradation/recycling ```
30
What is small molecule neurotransmitter synthesis?
* Enzymatic conversion of amino acid precursors | * Presence of enzyme dictates which type of NT are released from cell
31
What are large molecule neurotransmitter synthesis?
Peptides | Processed by enzymes
32
What is neurotransmitter synthesis?
• Small molecule – Classical neurotransmiPers – Punctateeffects – ReleaseinpulseforeachAP – Synthesized in cytoplasm and golgi apparatus of terminals • monoamines: Vesicles stuffed with precursor amino acid and synthesizing enzymes enroute to terminal – Released into cleft • Large molecule – Neuropeptides – Released gradually in response to increases in AP – Widespread effects – Released into ECF, ventricles or bloodstream – Neuromodulators – Synthesized in cell body, packaged in vesicles and then transported to terminal
33
What is neurotransmitter packaging?
``` • Secretory vesicles – Proteins synthesized in RER – Transported to golgi – Bud off golgi to form vesicle – Fast antergrade axonal transport – Transporter proteins actively pump NTs into vesicles • Example: VAchT • Small clear core vesicles – Contain small molelcule NT – 40-60nm DIAMETER • Large dense core vesicles – Contain neuropeptides – 90-250nmdiameter • Coexistence – More than one type of NT synthesized and released in neuron • Normally mix of small and large NT ```
34
How are neurotransmitters transported?
``` • Anterograde to axon terminal – Motor proteins • Kinesin – Uses series of attachment detachment steps – Microtubule highway system • Colchicine and vinblastine disrupt MT and prevent transport – Requires energy – Requires calcium – Speed of transport is 0.5-1.5 cm/hr ```
35
How are neurotransmitters released?
1. AP in axon terminal 2. Open voltage gated Ca++ channels – Clustered in active zone 3. Increase calcium influx 4. Activates proteins responsible for – Mobilizing vesicles • Synapsin removes vesicles from mt network – Fusing vesicles with synaptic membrane • Synaptotagmin • Snap25 • Syntaxin 5. Vesicles move to active zone 6. Vesicles dock onto synaptic membrane 7. Fuse with synaptic membrane and release NTs into cles – Exocytosis
36
What is vesicle recapture?
``` • Local resynthesis of synaptic vesicles • Pit formation – Kiss and run hypothesis • Direct recycling • Clatharin coating – Endocytosis – Cycle through endosomal compartment – Indirect recycling ```
37
What are neurotransmitter receptors?
• Pre and post synaptic cell • Specific for neurotransmitter – Multiple receptor subtypes for each NT • NT act differently in different areas of brain • Distribution varies across CNS – NT can only influence cells with receptors – Ligand = molecule specific to receptor • Example: Ach is a ligand for Ach receptor
38
What are inotropic receptors?
``` • Ligand–gated ion channels – NT can open or close ion channel • Influx or blockade of of sodium, chloride, potassium, or calcium • Fast acting • Generate EPSP or IPSP • Found post ```
39
What are metabotropic receptors?
``` • 7 TMD • G protein coupled – Second messenger signalling • Change gene expression • Modify existing proteins • Open or close ion channels – Indirectly induce IPSP or EPSP • Slow acting • Long lasting changes • More varied and diffuse effects • More prevalent than ionotropic • All neuropeptide receptors are metabotropic • Found pre and post synaptically – Presynaptic inhibition/ facilitation ```
40
How are neurotransmitter receptors activated?
``` • EPSP OR IPSP (ionotropic) – Summated to initiate or inhibit AP generation in post synaptic cell • Activate second messenger systems (metabotropic) – 1st messenger=NT – 2ND Messenger= Calcium, DAG, IP3, cyclic AMP (cAMP) • Initiate intracellular cascades • Open other ion channels • Long lasting changes in: – Synapse structure – Gene expression » Think effects of epigenetics – Cell survival ```
41
What are auto receptors?
``` • Metabotropic • Bind to own neuron’s NT • Presynaptic • Provide feedback – Reduce release when NT high – Increase release when NT low ```
42
What is neurotransmitter reuptake?
``` • Transporters on cell neurons and/or glia pick up NT from synaptic cles – In the cell: • NTs are repackaged into vesicles for future release • NTs are degraded by enzymes intracellularly – Excreted » Monoamines – Used as precursors for NT synthesis » Glutamate/GABA – Used as precursors for energy production » Glutamate ```
43
What is neurotransmitter degradation?
• Some NTs do not have transporters for reuptake – Enzymes degraded in cleft • Acetylcholine – Acetylcholinesterase » Inhibitors: pesticides, nerve gases venoms, reversible inhibitors used for treating ad • Some NTs are taken back up into cell but degraded in cytosol – Dopamine • Mao
44
What is neurotransmitter recycling?
* NT reuptake can provide more NT to be repackaged and released immediately * Some NT s can be broken down to form more of the same NT or used as a precursor to form different NT
45
What do glia do in synaptic transmission?
``` Astrocytes – Domains • Even distribution • Little overlap of astrocytes • Coordinate activity of synapses in domain • 40K processes=high potential to regulate – Modulate neuronal activity • Have NT receptors • Release NT – Tripartite synapse • Presynaptic, post synaptic and astrocyte cell – Uptake glutamate • Reduce excitotoxicity • Stimulate energy provision to neuron – Support ongoing neuronal activity ```
46
How do glial communicate via gap junctions?
``` • Made up of connexin – Mutations and disease • Connect cytoplasm of 2 adjacent cells – Second messengers – Electrical signals • Electrical synapse – Faster than chemical synapse • also found in interneurons • Function to synchronize activities of similar cells – interneurons ```
47
What are amino acid transmitters?
• Small molecule • Fast acting directed synapses • Byproducts of intermediary metabolism
48
What are excitatory amino acid NT?
``` • Carry 2 negative charges • Dendrite major receiving area – Require a lot of input for excitation • Glutamate – Most prevalent in CNS – Ionotropic • Sodium, potassium, and calcium – Metabotropic • Gs and Gq • Aspartate • Generate EPSP ```
49
What are inhibitory amino acid NTs?
``` • Inhibitory – Carry one negative charge – Soma major receiving area • Require less input for inhibition – GABA • Synthesized from glutamate • Most prevalent inhibitory NT in CNS • Interneurons • Ionotropic – Chloride influx or potassium efflux • Metabotropic – Gi/o – Glycine • Mainly in spinal cord • Ionotropic receptor – Chloride ions – Generate IPSP • Can generate EPSP in certain conditions ```
50
What is the difference between glutamate vs gaba?
``` • Excitation vs inhibition • Yin and yang • Epilepsy – Too much glutamate – Not enough GABA • Learning and memory – Wire together fire together – Too much GABA or not enough glutamate impairs memory ```
51
What are monoamine neurotransmitters?
``` • AKA biogenic amines • MAO degrades • Catecholamines – Dopamine(DA) – Norepinephrine(NE) – Epinephrine (adrenalin) (EPI) – Precursortyrosine • Indolamines – Serotonin (5-HT) – Melatonin – Precursortryptophan • Histamines • Diffused effects – Metabotropic receptors – Released by varocosities • Psychotropic drugs mimic or affect these systems ```
52
What are catecholamines?
``` • Modulators in PNS and CNS • Several receptor subtypes • EPI only released in PNS – Sympathetic nervous system • Fight or flight • Increase energy availability • NE and DA found in both PNS and CNS – Cant cross BBB – Stay and made in CNS/PNS ```
53
What is catecholamine distribution in the brain
``` • NE - Locus coereleus -Stress/anxiety -Vigilance -NE enzymes only in NE neurons • DA restricted distribution - Nigrostriatal system • Movement and reward - Dorsal mesostriatal pathway • Movement intiation – Parkinson’s disease - Ventral nigrostriatal pathway • Positive incentive/reward Mesolimbic cortical • Projects to limbic structures • Role in schizophrenia - Periventricular • Originate in hypothalamus – Motivated behaviours hunger, thirst and sex -Tuberalhypophyseal • Lactation -DA neurons do not have enzymes to further convert to NE or EPI ```
54
What are indolamines?
``` • Serotonin (5HT) – Modulatory – Several receptor subtypes – Distributed in 2 clusters • Raphe nuclei – Provide 80% of 5HT to forebrain • Caudal system – Sensory and motor function in spinal cord – Appetite, sleep and aggression • Decreased 5-HT increases aggression • High 5ht decreases carbohydrate appetite • Decreased 5-ht = insomnia – LSD ```
55
What is indolamines (melatonin)?
``` – Fluctuates with light cycle • Signals seasonal day length – Regulate circadian rhythms – Secreted in darkness • TV, laptop, cellphones at night? – Cause drowsiness/sleep • Used as sleep aid ```
56
What is acetylcholine (ACH)?
``` • First identified in NMJ – Botox – curare • Modulatory – Several receptor subtypes • Different CNS and PNS distributions • Nicotinic – Motor – Curare • Muscarinic – In ANS – atropine • Simple synthesis and degradation – Unique synaptic degradation (AchE) – Easy synthesis acetate+choline (ChAT) • Role in learning and memory – Alzheimer’s disease – Dietary choline – Atropine (mAchR antagonist) ```
57
What are unconventional neurotransmitters (soluble gas)?
``` • Soluble gases – Nitric oxide (NO) – Carbon monoxide (CO) – Both synthesized in neural cytoplasm – Retrograde transmission – Rapid diffusion to ECF • Cross membranes • Stimulate second messenger production – Difficult to study • Rapid breakdown • Exist for seconds ```
58
What are unconventional neurotransmitters (endocanninoids)?
``` - Receptors highly distributed – Anadimide • Sanskrit for “eternal bliss” – Pain reduction – Increase appetite – FaPy acids cross membranes – Retrograde transmission ```
59
What are neuropeptides?
Actions depend on amino acids, sequence | Loosely grouped: pituitary, hypothalamus, brain-gut, opiod, misc
60
Drugs and synaptic transmissions?
Agnostic - mimic efforts of the neurotransmitter Antagonists - blocks the effect of the neurotransmitter Alter NT activity at any point in cycle
61
What is behavioural pharmacology?
• Influential lines of research • Treatments for neurological or neuropathological disorders – Anxiety – Depression – Schizophrenia – Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease – Epilepsy • Drugs target specific receptors for specific effects • Drug discovery and endogenous agonist discovery give insight into brain mechanisms of pleasure and pain – Opioids
62
What is drug addiction?
* Legal status irrelevant * Ease of crossing BBB * Habitual use of a drug despite consequences and efforts to stop * Physical vs psychological dependence * Rewarding brain stimulation and CPP * Mesotelencephalic dopamine system
63
What are opioids?
``` • Endogenous – Endorphin and enkephalin • Exogenous – From opium poppy resin (morphine/ heroin) • Produce analgesia • Act in PAG, hypothalamus, limbic ```