Neuronal Function (1) Flashcards
In biology what is current associated with? Abbreviations and measurement?
movement of Na or K, I, measured in amps or coulombs/sec
How is voltage or potential described biologically?
strength of an electrical field, potential across a membrane (capacitor), measured at one point (inside the cell) with respect to another (outside the cell)
What is conductance and how is it measured?
g, reciprocal of resistance, ease of current flow
What is capacitance and how is it measured?
in Farrads (C), capacity of a thin sheet of material (cell membrane), to store charges of opposite sign on its surfaces
What is diffusion potential?
accumulation of a positive charge on the right and negative on the left of the membrane causing a voltage potential
How do you calculate the diffusion potential?
61mV log10 [ion]out/[ion]in; at 37 degrees
What maintains the concentration gradients of Na and K?
Na/K ATPase, 3 Na and 2K; 25-40% of metabolic activity of the brain
What are the major extracellular anions?
Cl and HCO3
What are the major intracellular anions?
Cl, phosphate, and proteins
What sets the limits of attainable membrane potentials?
permeability to Na and K
What is the membrane potential of most neurons?
-70mV, which is closer than Ek than Ena
What is depolarization?
hypopolarization; membrane potential is less negative than resting membrane potential
What is hyperpolarization?
aka repolarization; membrane potential is more negative
What are the two important properties of ion channels?
selectivity- size of pore and arrangement of charges allow certain ions to pass more readily; and gating- gates regulate diffusion of ions through pore, can be opened or closed by forces acting on the channel protein
What is inactivation of a voltage gated ion channel?
special closed state which channel enters after being opened; cannot be reopened during this state
What is the composition of the Na voltage gated channel? K?
4 domains, each with 6 trans-membrane segments, pore is formed by the P-loop between S5 and S6, a voltage sensor of 4 positively charged Arg in S4 (moves with depolarization), 3-4 linker swings to inactivate ; K has a ball and chain inactivator
How is an action potential generated?
at rest almost all Na channels are closed, depolarization causes opening of some, Na ion influx causes further depolarization; positive feedback is a regenerative process that ultimately leads to all Na opening
What happens to an AP if inactivation is slowed?
broadened AP, slow sodium channel inactivation contributes to epilepsy and certain long QT syndrome
How are sodium channels blockers used pharmacologically?
local anesthetic (lidocaine), anti-arrhythmic (flecainide, lidocaine)
What is the all or none law?
becuz regenerative opening of Na channels results in the opening of virtually all Na channels, all AP in a given cell attain about the same membrane potential at their peaks no matter how strong the depolarizing stimulus
What is the absolute refractory period?
new AP cannot be generated for a brief period after an AP (membrane still repolarizing), no matter how strong the stimulus because of the large number of Na channels remaining in inactivated state
What is the relative refractory period?
threshold is elevated since some Na channels remain inactivated so fewer are available to be opened
What is the role of K channels in AP?
some K remain open at negative voltages; inward rectifier and two pore subtypes (leak channels- help establish resting potential), others are opened by depolarization- these shape AP waveforms and contribute to refractory period
What is the contribution of depolarization-activated K channels to an AP?
K channels open a bit more slowly than Na channels with the maximum number of channel opening occurring about the maximum number opening at 0.5ms after the peak of Na; opening K channels increased Pk hyperpolarization and closing of K; since tis during repolarization it speeds it; can generate after hyperpolarization which contributes to RRP
How does an AP propagate?
positive charge enters axon during an AP, build up of positive charge in axon, like charges repel, move away from point of depolarization attracted towards the negative interior further down the axon, outside the build up of negative at site of initiation attracts positive from further down, neutralization of interior negative charges and removal of outside positive charges
What determines nerve conduction velocity?
distance of electronic charge spread; further it spreads the faster the AP propagates
What effects does internal resistance have on conduction velocity?
Pin is resistance to charge through the interior of the cell; lower Pin allows charge to spread further down the inside of the axon, large axonal diameter provides more possible paths for charge to take-> lower Rin, length constant gamma is proportional to the square root of the diameter; velocity is also proportional to the square root of axon diameter
What effect does myelin have on membrane capacitance?
myelin increases conduction velocity principally by lowering membrane capacitance; reducing capacitance allows charge to spread further down the axon, increasing AP velocity
What is salutatory conduction?
AP skip from one node of ranvier to the next (often jumping two to three nodes down; conduction velocity of a small myelinated axon is the same as and axon 30x larger in diameter
Which axons are unmyelinated in humans?
small nociceptive C fibers; small in diameter; also short interneurons
What are synaptic vesicels?
spherical, contain NT stored in synaptic terminal
What is the appearance of presynaptic vesicles on EM?
docked and waiting to be released; surrounded by a dense matrix; thick membrane undercoat on postsynaptic site; vesicles typically only on one side of the synapse
What is an Omega vesicle?
when the synaptic vesicle first fuses with the membrane and releases its NT into the synapse
What is a mPSP? What produces it? What is it called at a NMJ?
miniature post synaptic potential or miniature post synaptic current (mPSC); each vesicle produces a small one; mEPP (end plate potential)
what is synaptic transmission delay? How long is it typically?
time required for vesicle fusion and diffusion of NT across synaptic cleft; ~1ms
What stimulates transmitter release?
depolarization which leads to Ca entry via opening Ca voltage gated channels in presynaptic terminal; typically due to AP but can also be due to local synaptic potential or sensory receptor potential
What is the general structure of Ca voltage gated ion channel?
4 domains, each with 6 trans-membrane segments, pore is formed by the P-loop between S5 and S6, a voltage sensor of 4 positively charged Arg in S4 (moves with depolarization), many different forms mostly with A1 subunits and accessory units
What are the most common Ca voltage gated channels?
P/Q (CaV2.1) amd N (CaV2.2)
What is Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome?
associated with small cell lung carcinoma, due to autoimmune targeting of P/Q channels in motor nerve terminals
What is ziconotide used for? How does it work?
treat chronic pain; selective blocker of N-type channels; derived from toxin of fish hunting marine snail
What are the general function of the >80 proteins on a synaptic vesicle?
NT lading, docking, exocytosis and endocytosis
What are the steps in the vesicle cycle?
1) loading 2) storage 3) mobilization 4) docking 5) priming 6) calcium sensing 7) fusion 8) endocytosis
9) translocation 10) sorting
How are cationic NT concentrated into the vesicles?
via active transport; proton pump generates electrochemical gradient for NT uptake (1 pup per vesicle) then cationic transmitters (5HT) are exchanged for protons
How are anionic NT concentrated into the vesicles?
ex glutamate; use vesicular membrane potential established by proton pump
What are the V-snare proteins?
vesicle associated SNARE; synaptobrevin aka VAMP(vesicle associated membrane protein),
What are the T-snare proteins?
target-associated SNARES; syntaxin and SNAP25
What does Munc18-1 do?
helps assemble the SNARE complex
What does Synaptotagmin?
Ca sensor and fusion clamp
What do complexins do?
helps synaptotagmin clamp the SNARE complex to prevent spontaneous fusion
How do botulinum and tetanus toxins work at the NMJ?
cleave snare proteins
changes in exocytotic protiens are associate with what conditions?
neurologic and psychiatric disease; either casual role or contribute to symptoms in other diseases