1
Q

What are dendrites?

A

→ Long thin extensions making a dendritic tree

→ they are the receptive surface of the nerve cell (synaptic inputs)

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2
Q

What is the dimensions of a slice for a light microscope?

A

→ 50micron

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3
Q

What does a microtome slice use?

A

→ slice embedded in wax

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4
Q

What is the disadvantage of a microtome slice?

A

→ The wax interferes with staining chemicals

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5
Q

What is a cryostat?

A

→ A frozen version of a microtome

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6
Q

How can you make the brain transparent?

A

→ Treating the tissue with solvents renders it transparent because it removes the myelin

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7
Q

What does the Nissl stain stain?

A

→ stains RNA

→ but only in nerve cell bodies

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8
Q

What does the Golgi method use?

A

→ Silver chromate creates a dense black stain

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9
Q

What is the disadvantage of the Golgi method?

A

→ It only labels 1-2% of cells

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10
Q

What is a multipolar nerve cell?

A

→ Many dendrites coming off from the cell body

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11
Q

What is a pyramidal nerve cell?

A

→ dendrites form a triangular shape

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12
Q

What is a spiny nerve cell?

A

→ Some dendrites have spines

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13
Q

What is a pseudounipolar dendrite?

A

→ Sensory cell

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14
Q

What is a bipolar dendrite?

A

→ two dendritic ends

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15
Q

Describe how you visualise the axon?

A

→ Intracellular injection of biocytin with a very small pipette
→ Set of antibodies against the tracer
→ Antibodies against the tracer antibodies

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16
Q

What does horseradish peroxidase do?

A

→ Linked to an enzyme that deposits a black insoluble substance around the antibodies

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17
Q

What is an advantage of the antibody method?

A

→ Can see multiple features within the cell

→ Can record the electrical activity using the same electrode pipette

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18
Q

What is a disadvantage of the antibody method?

A

→ Intracellular injections will not give long-range connections

19
Q

How can long range connections be seen?

A

→ Small extracellular injections of tracer are taken up and transported by the axons

20
Q

What is retrograde transport?

A

→ Transporting back to where the axons came from

21
Q

What is used to find out where axons synapse?

A

→ electron microscope

22
Q

What is the magnification and resolution of an electron microscope?

A

→ > 100,000 magnification

→ <0.5nm resolution

23
Q

Where are excitatory synapses found?

A

→ On the end of dendritic spines

24
Q

What is the function of kinesin?

A

→ kinesin moves anterogradely and retrogradely within the axon carrying structural proteins that are being made in the cell body

25
Q

What do microtubules carry away from the cell body?

A

→ Structural proteins
→ Neurotransmitter associated proteins
→ Organelles
→ they are the motorways that kinesin travels down

26
Q

What do microtubules carry towards the cell body?

A

→ Signaling proteins

→ Debris and used materials

27
Q

What is the function of actin microfilaments?

A

→ Provide support
→ help to maintain the shape of cell body and neurites
→ play a vital role in neural embryonic growth and help shape axons and dendrites

28
Q

How are actin microfilaments involved in memory formation?

A

→ change the shape of the dendritic spines hence the growth of synapses during memory formation

29
Q

What does the actin skeleton do?

A

→ Actin skeletons within the filopodia grow or shrink in response to chemical signals

30
Q

What is the function of tau protein?

A

→ proteins that bind together cytoskeletal elements

31
Q

What disease is tau protein found in?

A

→ Alzheimers

32
Q

What are the three ways mice brains can be genetically engineered to express tracer protein?

A

→ Cells that use a specific neurotransmitter
→ Cells of a specific type
→ Cells that make a specific type of connection

33
Q

Why can GFP be expressed in all animals?

A

→ Genetic code is degenerate

34
Q

What are the 6 functions of astrocytes?

A

→ They control the movement of materials into and out of tissue
→ Flush waste products from the brain
→ Remove used neurotransmitter from fast synapses
→ control synaptic development and function
→ control electrolyte level in the extracellular space
→ Manufacture/break down substances on behalf of neurons

35
Q

How is the blood brain barrier formed?

A

→ Astrocytes make contact with capillaries which induces them to form the blood brain barrier

36
Q

What do astrocytes look like?

A

→ A blanket around nerve cells

37
Q

How do astrocytes link together?

A

→ In chain gangs that transport material to and from neurons

38
Q

What are the two types of myelinating glia?

A

→ Neurolemmocytes (Schwann cells)

→ Oligodendrocytes

39
Q

What is the difference between Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes?

A

→ Schwann cells myelinate a single axon in a peripheral nerve
→ Oligodendrocytes myelinate multiple axons in the CNS

40
Q

What disease arises when myelinating glia are damaged?

A

→ Parkinsons

41
Q

What are microglia?

A

→ Immune cells that migrate into the CNS very early in development

42
Q

Why are microglia not considered glia?

A

→ they do not arise from the neural tube like other glial cells

43
Q

What are the 4 functions of microglia?

A

→ help the direct development of neurons and constantly monitor their health
→ become ameboid and travel to areas of injury/infection
→ engulf and eliminate microbes, damaged cells and other particulate matter
→ Secrete factors essential for recovery and repair