Synapses, Neurotransmitters, Hormones Flashcards
What is synaptic transmission?
How neurones communicate with each other
What is a synapse?
The gap between neurones where signals are passed from one to another
What are the two types of synapses?
Electrical and chemical
What are the characteristics of an electric synapse?
Small gap between two neurones (2-4nm), large channels to allow ions to move directly from one neurone to another, process is similar to propagation of an action potential, fast, prevalence in PNS due to muscle contraction
How are action potential propagated in electric synapses?
From the pre-synaptic neurone to the post-synaptic neurone
What are the characteristics of a chemical synapse?
Specialised structures to transmit chemical signals, larger gap (20-40nm), slow transmission, high prevalence in neurones (1000)
What is the process in chemical synapses with action potential?
- Action potential arrives at pre-synaptic membran3
- VG Ca 2+ channels open
- Ca 2+ diffuses into the cell
- Synaptic vesicles fuse with the membrane
- Neurotransmitters released into the synaptic cleft
- Neurotransmitter binds to the postsynaptic receptor, opening the ion channels
What is the fusion process of vesicles?
Lipid membrane forms a large opening for release into the cleft
What is the criteria for neurotransmitters?
Must be synthesised in the pre-synaptic neurone, present in the axon terminal and released in a calcium dependant manner upon depolarisation of the pre-synaptic neurone
What do amino acid transmitters do?
Fast transmission such as glutamate with the related amino acid aspartate
What are examples of biogenic amines?
Noradrenaline, adrenaline, dopamine
How are biogenic amines produced?
By the amino acid tyrosine and then decarboxylation occurs
How do neuropeptides work?
They have long term neuromodulatory effects due to interaction with metabotropics
What are the three groups of neuromodulator peptides
Enkephalins, endorphins, dynorphins
What is a property of enkephalins?
Pain relieve
What are properties of endorphins and dynorphins?
Pain relief and euphoria
What happens if the synapse is excitatory?
NA + channels open, depolarisation occurs leading to an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
What happen if the synapse is inhibitory?
Cl- channels open, hyperpolarisation occurs leading to an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
What are receptors?
Membrane proteins that bind neurotransmitters in a lock and key principle so each receptor type can bind only to a specific neurotransmitter
What are ionotropic receptors?
Receptors that lead to the opening or closing of an ion channel so there is a change in the ion channel permeability for a flow of ions across the cell membrane
What are ionotropic receptors responsible for?
Fast, brief and precise synaptic transmission
What is the structure of an ionotropic receptor?
Ligang-gated ion channel, receptor site is apart of the ion channel protein
What are metabotropic receptors?
Receptors where the binding of neurotransmitters activates a G protein
What does a G protein do?
Bind to an ion channel which will influence opening or closing or activate secondary messengers
What do metabotropic receptors allow?
Slower and prolonged signalling
What are neurotransmitters?
A chemical released that will transmit signals between neurones
What are characteristics of neurotransmitters?
Synthesised in the pre-synaptic neurones, localised to vesicles in the pre-synaptic neurone, released from the pre-synaptic neurones, removed by the synaptic cleft, binds to receptor
What happens to neurotransmitters when the signal is transmitted?
It is either recycled in the cleft by reuptakers or neutralised by enzymes
What are 4 excitatory neurotransmitters?
Acetylcholine, glutamate, norepinephrine, serotonin
What is acetylcholine’s role?
Muscle control
What is glutamate’s main role?
Learning and memory
What is norpinephrine’s main role?
Fight or flight response and arousal
What is serotonin’s main role?
Mood, appetite, sensory perception