1
Q

What are dendrites?

A

β†’ Long thin extensions making a dendritic tree

β†’ 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

β†’ 50micron

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3
Q

What does a microtome slice use?

A

β†’ slice embedded in wax

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4
Q

What is the disadvantage of a microtome slice?

A

β†’ The wax interferes with staining chemicals

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5
Q

What is a cryostat?

A

β†’ A frozen version of a microtome

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6
Q

How can you make the brain transparent?

A

β†’ 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

β†’ stains RNA

β†’ but only in nerve cell bodies

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8
Q

What does the Golgi method use?

A

β†’ Silver chromate creates a dense black stain

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9
Q

What is the disadvantage of the Golgi method?

A

β†’ It only labels 1-2% of cells

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10
Q

What is a multipolar nerve cell?

A

β†’ Many dendrites coming off from the cell body

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11
Q

What is a pyramidal nerve cell?

A

β†’ dendrites form a triangular shape

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12
Q

What is a spiny nerve cell?

A

β†’ Some dendrites have spines

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13
Q

What is a pseudounipolar dendrite?

A

β†’ Sensory cell

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14
Q

What is a bipolar dendrite?

A

β†’ two dendritic ends

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15
Q

Describe how you visualise the axon?

A

β†’ Intracellular injection of biocytin with a very small pipette
β†’ Set of antibodies against the tracer
β†’ Antibodies against the tracer antibodies

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16
Q

What does horseradish peroxidase do?

A

β†’ 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

β†’ Can see multiple features within the cell

β†’ 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

β†’ Intracellular injections will not give long-range connections

19
Q

How can long range connections be seen?

A

β†’ Small extracellular injections of tracer are taken up and transported by the axons

20
Q

What is retrograde transport?

A

β†’ Transporting back to where the axons came from

21
Q

What is used to find out where axons synapse?

A

β†’ electron microscope

22
Q

What is the magnification and resolution of an electron microscope?

A

β†’ > 100,000 magnification

β†’ <0.5nm resolution

23
Q

Where are excitatory synapses found?

A

β†’ On the end of dendritic spines

24
Q

What is the function of kinesin?

A

β†’ 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

β†’ Structural proteins
β†’ Neurotransmitter associated proteins
β†’ Organelles
β†’ they are the motorways that kinesin travels down

26
Q

What do microtubules carry towards the cell body?

A

β†’ Signaling proteins

β†’ Debris and used materials

27
Q

What is the function of actin microfilaments?

A

β†’ Provide support
β†’ help to maintain the shape of cell body and neurites
β†’ 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

β†’ change the shape of the dendritic spines hence the growth of synapses during memory formation

29
Q

What does the actin skeleton do?

A

β†’ Actin skeletons within the filopodia grow or shrink in response to chemical signals

30
Q

What is the function of tau protein?

A

β†’ proteins that bind together cytoskeletal elements

31
Q

What disease is tau protein found in?

A

β†’ Alzheimers

32
Q

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

A

β†’ Cells that use a specific neurotransmitter
β†’ Cells of a specific type
β†’ Cells that make a specific type of connection

33
Q

Why can GFP be expressed in all animals?

A

β†’ Genetic code is degenerate

34
Q

What are the 6 functions of astrocytes?

A

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

35
Q

How is the blood brain barrier formed?

A

β†’ Astrocytes make contact with capillaries which induces them to form the blood brain barrier

36
Q

What do astrocytes look like?

A

β†’ A blanket around nerve cells

37
Q

How do astrocytes link together?

A

β†’ In chain gangs that transport material to and from neurons

38
Q

What are the two types of myelinating glia?

A

β†’ Neurolemmocytes (Schwann cells)

β†’ Oligodendrocytes

39
Q

What is the difference between Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes?

A

β†’ Schwann cells myelinate a single axon in a peripheral nerve
β†’ Oligodendrocytes myelinate multiple axons in the CNS

40
Q

What disease arises when myelinating glia are damaged?

A

β†’ Parkinsons

41
Q

What are microglia?

A

β†’ Immune cells that migrate into the CNS very early in development

42
Q

Why are microglia not considered glia?

A

β†’ they do not arise from the neural tube like other glial cells

43
Q

What are the 4 functions of microglia?

A

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