LTP and Depression

Question 1

Sensitizing Synapse

Answer 1

Release 5HT, which acts on presyn R to increase cAMP. This phosphos K channels, causing AP to be longer and thus more Ca enters and thus more vesicle release

Question 2

AMPA and NMDA Synergy

Answer 2

AMPA activates fast w/ just glutamate, so they’ll summate and depol cell so that NMDA can be activated, generating longer and stronger AP and allowing Ca influx

Question 3

Significance of Dendritic Spine

Answer 3

Small, enclosed area to localize increased Ca concentration

Question 4

LTP Mech

Answer 4

Strong, repeated stimulation leads to AMPA summation, NMDA activation, and Ca influx. Ca activates kinases which phospho AMPAs, making them more efficacious, and trafficking prots to increase # of AMPA (maybe NMDA too) at cell surface so one-two punch

Question 5

Associative Learning

Answer 5

When one synapse depol’d, depol spreads along entire dendrite. If another synapse is activated SIMULTANEOUSLY during the brief depol of the first synapse, it will also be activated to LTP

Question 6

LTD

Answer 6

Weak stimulation of synapse causes little Ca influx. This causes phosphatases to be activated, which do the exact opposite of LTP kinases

Question 7

LTD Location and Dependence

Answer 7

Occurs in cerebellum and depends on Ca influx