NS 1 - PT 2 Flashcards
Name the 2 types of synapses
Chemical and electrical synapses
Explain electrical synapses
Characterised by gap junction with ion channels that connect the cytoplasm of adjacent cells
Function of gap junctions
Allow free movement of ions from the cytoplasm of one cell to the next
Function of electrical sunapses
Allow bidirectional transmission of impulses
Explain chemical synapses
Characterised by the secretion of a neurotransmitter
Which type of synapse is abundant in the CNS
Chemical neurotransmitter
How many known neurotransmitters are there?
More than 50
Membrane of the presynaptic terminal is called the_______________
Presynaptic membrane
Which ion channel is abundant in the presynaptic membrane?
Voltage-gated calcium channels
Explain synaptic transmission
AP depolarises the presynaptic membrane open the calcium channels and allow influx of calcium ions into the terminal.
Calcium influx cause transmitter vesicles in the presynaptic terminal to release their neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft
What guides and promotes vesicle fusion with the cell membrane?
SNARE proteins
Synaptobrevin
*SNAP-25
*Syntaxin
*Synaptotagmin – Ca2+ sensing
Target for neurotoxins: Botulinum toxins
Chemical synapses transmit signals bidirectionally - true or false
f. they transmit in one direction from presynaptic neuron to postsynaptic neuron
What is the target site of neurotransmitters?
Receptors in the postsynaptic membrane
What is the action of neurotransmitter in the postsynaptic neuron?
Excitation, inhibition, or modify sensitivity
Types of postsynaptic membrane receptors
Ionotropic receptors and metabotropic receptors
Explain the mechanisms of postsynaptic excitation
Opening of sodium channels allows influx of positive electrical charges to flow to the interior of the postsynaptic cell
Decrease of chloride or potassium channels or both. Increased expression of excitatory membrane receptors or decreased expression of inhibitory membrane receptors
What membrane mechanisms receptors cause inhibition? (3)
Opening of chloride channels on the postsynaptic membrane
Increased efflux of potassium ions out of the neuron
Increased expression of inhibitory synaptic receptors, or decreased expression of excitatory receptors
What are neurotransmitters?
Endogenous chemicals in the brain that enable signalling across a chemical synapse
3 functions of neurotransmitters
Carry and modulate signals between neurons or other cell types
Act on a variety of targets to elicit biological functions
Cause electrophysiological changes in the postsynaptic cell (Excitation by depolarization or inhibition by hyperpolarization)
Explain synthesis and transport of neuropeptides
Neuropeptides are
synthesized in the cell
body and pre-loaded
into vesicles which are
delivered to the axon
terminal by axonal
transport.
Which types of receptors does glutamate act on?
Glutamate acts on both ionotropic and metabotropic receptors
How are glutamate receptors named? give examples
Glutamate receptors named after synthetic agonists that activate them.
* AMPA (amino-methylisoxazole propionic acid)
* Kainite
* NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate)
Repetitive activation of the NMDA receptor leads to what?
Long term potentiation
Influx of calcium ions leads to activation of ____________________ enzymes
Ca2+ dependent enzymes