Neuronal communication I Flashcards
debate btw:
- reticulists
- neuronists
debate: reticulists
- Golgi
- said nervous system was diffuse network of continuous tissue (reticulum) from fused branches of dendrites/ axons
debate: neuronists
- Cajal
- neurons were discreet elements
- cytoplasm not continuous
- observed neurons had tiny gaps btw basket cell axons and Purkinje cell bodies
debate: who won?
- Cajal and used Golgi stain
4 major signalling mechanisms to allow cells to communicate:
- juxtacrine
- paracrine
- autocrine
- endocrine
signalling mechanisms: juxtacrine signalling
- membrane bound proteins (MBP) interact w other membrane proteins on adjacent cells
- MBP interact w ligands in extracellular matrix of adjacent cells
signalling mechanisms: paracrine signalling
- local communication btw cells that are in close proximity
signalling mechanisms: autocrine signalling
- chemical signalling released by cell bind to receptors on same cell
signalling mechanisms: endocrine signalling
- chemical signals released by endocrine cells into circulatory system to communicate w distant target organs
signalling mechanisms: juxtacrine travel
- travel via hydrophilic membrane channels/ pores (gap junctions) btw cells
signalling mechanisms: paracrine travel
- neurotransmitters released by one cell diffuse through the extracellular space to contact adjacent cells
cell-cell contracts may be:
- axodendritic
- axosomatic
- axoaxonic
neuron to neuron synapses:
- juxtacrine and/or paracrine signalling
- location of contact important functionally
- synaptic connections create neural circuits
- circuits trigger physiological or cognitive changes
synaptic delay:
- neural pathway has several synapses for signal to cross
- the more synapses= slower response time, more delay
name types of synapse:
- chemical
- electrical
define synapse
- specialised junction btw two neurons/ neuron + effector organ
electrical synapses: features
- cytosol of neighbouring cells linked via small pores/ channels = gap junctions
- electrical charge diffuses passively into adjacent cell
- no neurotransmitters required
electrical synapses: eg
- some neurons
- cardiac mm
- smooth muscle (single unit)
electrical synapses: properties
- juxtacrine signalling
- v rapid communicaion
- uni/ bidrectional communication
- can transmit excitatory/ inhibitory signals at same synapse
- signal transmission is always ‘sign conserving’ = preserves polarity passed from pre-synaptic to post-synaptic
electrical synapses: gap junctions large enough for
- small molecules not proteins/ DNA to diffuse
- allows secondary messengers to coordinate intracellular signalling processes across coupled cells