Exam II Flashcards
(140 cards)
An impulse in one neuron that spreads to another neuron via a pathway of low electrical resistance is known as
Electrical transmission
- highly synchronized
- fast
- -mammalian neurons, gap junctions (in non-neural cells like glia, epithelial, muscle cells, liver and glandular)
Transmission of impulses via synapse (site where information is transmitted from one cell to another). It allows integration.
Chemical transmission
- no continuity (b/t cytoplasm of pre-synaptic terminal and post-synaptic neuron)
- synaptic clefts separate cells
True/False: In chemical transmission, information is transmitted across the synaptic cleft via neurotransmitter. The NT is released form the pre-synaptic terminal and binds to receptors on the post-synaptic terminal.
True
*voltage gated Ca2+ channels at the end of the pre-synaptic neuron
A receptor that allows ions into the cells directly (via ion channels)
IOnotropic receptor
*fast response
A receptor that uses a G protein to activate an ion channel and allow ions into the cell, or that uses a G protein to create a signalling cascade
Metabotropic receptor
- G-protein gated ion channel
- second messengers
*slow response
The major mechanism for clearance of most transmitters is:
a. enzymatic degradation
b. reuptake by pre-synaptic processes
c. internalization by post-synaptic process
d. uptake by glial cells
e. diffusion
Answer: Re-uptake by presynaptic processes
Drugs can affect synaptses at a variety of sites and in a variety of ways including:
- Release NT from vesicles
- Produce more or less NT
- Block re-uptake of NT
- Block receptors
Drugs that block NT reuptake increase the concentration and duration of action of the NT in the synaptic cleft. What are examples of these drugs?
- Fluoxetine
- -SSRI (anti-depressant)
- -blocks reabsorption of serotonin - Cocaine
- -blocks the DAT (dopamine transporter)
- -prevents DA reuptake
* hyperactive locomotive patterns
*expand availability of the NT already present in the synaptic cleft (that can bind to post-synaptic receptors)
Drugs can affect synaptses at a variety of sites and in a variety of ways including:
- Release NT from vesicles
- Produce more or less NT
- Block re-uptake of NT
- Block receptors
Which drug performs all 4 of these effects?
Amphetamine
- Enters cell
- -passive diffusion or membrane bound DAT (reuptake transporters) - Redistribution of DA from vesicles into cytosol (VMAT-2)
- Mobilies stored NT from storage vesicles
- -increases concentration of NT in cytosol - Blocks pre-synaptic re-uptake of DA by DAT
- -inhibits MAO
GABA acts as the principal inhibitory NT. It aids in controlling neuronal hyperactivity by inhibiting
Glutamate (excitatory)
–excessive glutamate = seizures (exotocicity; neuronal death)
GABA is inhibited by what enzyme?
GABA transaminase
*inhibition of GABA transaminase by Valproic acid *anti-convulsant) = increased GABA in synaptic cleft
It Has 3 major receptors:
- GABA A
- GABA B
- GABA C
GABA A and C are both ionotropic receptors, allowing the flow of ____ ions into the neuron.
Chloride ions flow into the neuron
- hyperpolarization
- dec. action potentials
- Benzodiazapene (BZD)
It Has 3 major receptors:
- GABA A
- GABA B
- GABA C
GABA B is a metabotropic receptor which uses a G-protein to activate what kind of ion channel?
K+ (flow out of cell)
- hyperpolarizes cell (more neg)
- Flumazenil, Phenobarbital, ETOH
NOTE: all GABA respond to fear, anxiety and convulsions
In addition to having binding sites, GABA has allosteric binding sites for other substances known as GABA modulators.
GABA modulators can increase or decrease the action of GABA, but have no effect in the absence of GABA.
What are examples of positive modulators? Negative?
- Positive:
- -BZD (treats anxiety, fear, epilepsy) (benzodiazapene binding site)
- -barbiturates - Negative:
- -Flumazenil (convulsant)
- –reverses effects of BZD; non-competitive antagonist (binds GABA antagonist site)
—Anti-epileptics which inhibit Na2+ current (e.g. phenobarbital)
–Anti-epileptics which enhance GABA-ergic inhibition (benzos, phenobarbital)
–ETOH (barbiturate binding site)
Glutamate is the principal excitatory NT. It has two types of Ioniotropic receptors:
- AMPA (Na2+)
- NMDA (Na2+/Ca2+)
These receptors are located on the dendritic spines and play a major role in learning and memory via _____
Long Term Synaptic Potentiation (LTP)
- when glutamate binds these receptors = channels open
- memory = at synaptic level
WHat are the steps in NT release?
- Depolarization (action potential) in presynaptic cell. Results in calcium channels opening at axon terminal.
- Calcium influx into presynaptic cell occurs
- Calcium mobilizes synaptic vesicles
- Synaptic vesicles fuse to presynaptic terminal button membrane
- Exocytosis occurs: process of vesicles fusing to plasma membrane and opening to release their content into extracellular space.
- Neurotransmitter substance diffuses across the synaptic cleft
- Neurotransmitter attaches to receptor sites on post synaptic membrane
- Neurotransmitter affects the chemical gates of the postsynaptic membrane, changing membrane permeability.
Long Term Synaptic Potentiation (LTP) is a principal form of synaptic plasticity in the mammalian brain, through to underlie learning and memory.
During development there is a refinement of synaptic connections (Hebbian synaptic modification).
The following are necessary for successful initiation of LTP and for the promotion of memory consolidation and distribution:
- _______: functional memory formation and retrieval
- ______: synapses work as a functional group
- ______: is synthesized and inserted into the post-synaptic membrane of dendrites
- Synchrony
- -functional memory formation and retrieval - Stimuli repetition
- -synapses work as a functional group - AMPA-R is synthesized and inserted into post-synaptic membrane (of dendrites)
- -phosphorylated for inc. glutamate response
A physical trace of a memory in the brain
Engram
- activation by stimulus
- neuronal assembly
- rehearsal/reactivation
- LTP (Hebbian synaptic modification)
- strengthened connections
True/False: Memories are stored in the interconnected neurons (neuronal ensemble) from areas involved in sensation and perception
True
True/False: Formation of an engram involves strengthening synaptic connections (LTP) between populations of neurons, neuronal ensembles.
True
- The nerves that innervate muscle fibers
- Comprises a single motor neuron and the muscle fibers it innervates
- Synapses between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber is known as a
- motor neurons
- motor unit
- -facial expressions, quadriceps in running - Neuromuscular junction (NMJ)
Ach is formed from acetyl CoA and choline via choline acetyltransferase. It is stored in vesicles w/ ATP and proteoglycan for subsequent release.
On stimulation, the entire vesicle is released into the synaptic cleft. The smallest possible amount of Ach that can be released is the one quantum (amt. within one synaptic vesicle).
How is acetylcholine broken down?
Acetylcholinesterase (Ache) in the synapse
*choline transported back into axon terminal to be re-used
There are 2 major subtypes of Nicotinic Acetylcholine receptors: muscle-types and neuronal-type.
_______ type receptors are present at the NMJ. It is a complex of 5 subunits of four proteins (alpha, beta, gamma, delta)
Muscle type receptors
2a, 1 B, 1 d
There are 2 major subtypes of Nicotinic Acetylcholine receptors: muscle-types and neuronal-type.
______ type receptors are a complex of five subunits of 2 proteins (alpha and beta). They can form combinations of 12 different nicotinic receptors
Neuronal nAchR
- Ligand-gated ion channel
- K+ out
Describe the process of SK muscle contraction via Ach stimulation
*Synaptic Transmission Slide 36
- An action potential in a motor neuron is propagated to the terminal button.
- The presence of an action potential in the terminal button triggers the opening of the voltage-dated Ca++2 channels and the subsequent entry of Ca++2 into the terminal button (Ca++2 uptake)
- Ca++2 triggers the release of the acetylcholine by exocytosis from a portion of the vesicles.
- Acetylcholine diffuses across the space separating the nerve and the muscle cell membrane (synaptic cleft).
- Acetylcholine binds to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors opening the ligand-ion channel leading to a relatively large movement of Na into the muscle cell compared to a smaller movement of K outward.
- The result is an end plate potential. Local current flow occurs between the depolarized end plate and the adjacent membrane.
- This local current flow opens voltage-gated Na channels in the adjacent membrane.
- The resultant Na entry reduces the potential from cero to threshold, initiating an action potential, which is propagated throughout the muscle fiber. (-80 to 0mV)
- Acetylcholine is subsequently destroyed by acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme located on the motor end plate membrane, terminating the muscle cell response.