Synaptic Transmission Flashcards
synaptic transmission
electrical and chemical means that neuron use to signal between cells
neuron strcuture
4 regions: cell body, dendrites, axon, presynaptic termini (some have no dendrites others no axon most have all 4 though)
synapse
site of interaction between neurons in nervous system and target cells (transmits information from one neuron to next)
types synaptic contact that can occur
axosomatic, axodendritic, axoaxonic
axosomatic
axon terminating on cell soma of another neuron
axodenderitic
axon terminating on dendrite of another neuron
axoaxonic
axon terminates on another axon
presynaptic terminal
where upstream axon talks to downstream axon
types of synaptic transmission
electrical or chemical
synaptic structure
synapse involves apposition of presynaptic neuron and postsynaptic cell
- compartments of synapse: presynaptic terminal and postsynaptic site, synaptic cleft (chemical synapses only)
presynaptic termmial
where axondendritic synapses would be at end of axon
postsynaptic site
on dendrite opposite presynaptic terminal on receiving neuron
synaptic cleft
chemical synapses which separate presynaptic terminal and postsynaptic site
electrical synapses
- gap junctions
- present in heart and NS but mostly in heart most NS synapses are chemical
gap junction structure
multipliers of connexin protein which will form pore connecting cells -
- facilitate v fast transmission from one cell to next
what can be transmitted across gap junction
- action potential passively transmitted as current
- small molecules like cAMP and some neurotransmitters can also be passed from one cell to next
- gap jnxs can coordinate actions of number cells by electrically connecting them
chemical vs electrical synapses
electrical are faster but chemicals are more flexible
chemical synapse
gap between neuron bridged by release of chemical signal called neurotransmitter from presynaptic ternimal
neurotransmitter classical criteria
- classical neurotransmitters produced and stored (and therefore, can be localized) within a neuron
- When a neuron is stimulated (depolarized) a neurotransmitter is released by neuron. Release is dependent upon calcium
- Neurotransmitters must be inactivated
- When neurotransmitter released it acts upon post-synaptic receptor to cause biological effect
general categories neurotransmitters
small molecules (includes small molecules, monoamines, animo acids, catecholamines) and neuropeptides
small molecules
acetylcholine
animo acids
glutamate, GABA, Glycine
monoamines
serotonin, histamine
catecholamines
dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine
small molecules synthesized where transported how
enzymes that make them made in cell body then enzymes transported via slow axonal transport from cell body to presynaptic terminal; small molecule neurotransmitters synthesized from component parts at presynaptic terminal vesicles loaded at synaptic terminal where small molecules are made
what enzyme is made to use acetylcholine
choline acetyl transferase
neuropeptide synthesized wehre transported how
synthesized in cell body and packaged into vesicles here then transported by fast axonal transport
acetylcholine synthesized from
Acetyl-coA and choline by choline acetyltransferase in presynaptic terminal (these component parts aren’t sitting around presynaptic terminal they are sitting in vesicles docked at cleft waiting for release)