Synaptic Transmission

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Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings (http:www.aw!bc.com"
Page 1. Introduction
# $%naptic transmission in&ol&es the release of neurotransmitter from the pres%naptic cell, diffusion of
neurotransmitter across the s%naptic cleft, and binding of the neurotransmitter to receptors on the
posts%naptic cell.
# It ends when the neurotransmitter dissociates from the receptor and is remo&ed from the s%naptic cleft.
Page 2. Goals
# 'o understand the detailed mechanism of neurotransmitter release, diffusion, and binding to the
posts%naptic receptor.
# 'o learn that the action of the neurotransmitter depends on the t%pe of receptor on the posts%naptic
cell.
# 'o re&iew the location and function of neurotransmitters.
Page 3. The Presynaptic Cell: Neurotransmitter Release
# (e ha&e e)amined the e&ents of s%naptic transmission. *ow
let+s loo, at the details.
# -n action potential in the a)on terminal causes &oltage!gated
calcium channels to open and calcium to enter the terminal.
# 'he presence of calcium inside the cell causes the s%naptic
&esicles to fuse with the membrane.
# Each &esicle releases a fi)ed amount of neurotransmitter into
the s%naptic cleft.
# *eurotransmitter diffuses across the s%naptic cleft.
Page 4. The Postsynaptic Cell: Receptor Binding
# *eurotransmitter binds to a
receptor on the posts%naptic
neuron where it can act
directl% or indirectl%.
# Chemicall%!gated ion
channels remain open as long
as the neurotransmitter is
bound to the receptor, and are
not sensiti&e to changes in the
membrane potential.
# $%naptic current, or ion
mo&ement through
chemicall%!gated channels,
ma% depolari.e or
h%perpolari.e the neuron. 'he
e)ample below illustrates
depolari.ation of the
posts%naptic neuron.
Page 5. Termination of Synaptic Transmission
# $%naptic transmission ends when the neurotransmitter dissociates from the receptor and is remo&ed
from the s%naptic cleft.
# /ost often, the neurotransmitter is pumped bac, into the pres%naptic terminal and into nearb% glial
cells.
# 0ere we illustrate the neurotransmitter glutamate being pumped bac, into the pres%naptic terminal.
# In some cases, the neurotransmitter is bro,en down b% en.%mes, and the brea,down products are
pumped awa%.
# 'he neurotransmitter acet%lcholine is an e)ample of this process.
# (hen brea,down products are transported into the pres%naptic terminal, the% are used to res%nthesi.e
neurotransmitter.
# 'he neurotransmitter, which has been returned to the terminal, is repac,aged into &esicles for storage
and subse1uent release.
# 'he mechanism b% which neurotransmitter is returned to the terminal is specific for each
neurotransmitter and can be selecti&el% affected b% drugs.
# 2ill out this chart:
Page 6. Review of the Events of Synaptic Transmission
# -n action potential occurs in the pres%naptic terminal.
# 'he &oltage!gated calcium channels open and calcium
diffuses into the a)on terminal
# 'he s%naptic &esicles fuse with the pres%naptic cell
membrane and open.
# *eurotransmitter diffuses across the s%naptic cleft and binds
to the posts%naptic receptor .
# Current flows across the posts%naptic cell membrane.
# *eurotransmitter dissociates from the receptor and is pumped
bac, into the a)on terminal.
3 *ow is a good time to go to 1ui. 1uestion 4:
# Clic, the 5ui. button on the left side of the screen.
# (or, through 1ui. 1uestion 4.
# (hen %ou are done return to 6Page 7. 8esponse of the Posts%naptic Cell."
Page 7. Response of the Postsynaptic Cell
# (e ha&e e)amined the mechanism of s%naptic
transmission.
# *ow let+s loo, at the conse1uences of s%naptic
acti&it% on the posts%naptic cell.
# 'he action of the posts%naptic cell depends on which
neurotransmitter is in&ol&ed, and the specific receptor
found on that cell.
Page 8. Acetyl Choline and its Receptors
# 'here are multiple receptors for each
neurotransmitter.
# Each such receptor acti&ates a different ion
channel, causing a different effect in the
posts%naptic cell.
# 'here are two groups of receptors, called
cholinergic receptors, which bind
acet%lcholine.
# 9ne group also binds the chemical nicotine: the
other group also binds the chemical muscarine.
# 'he cholinergic nicotinic receptor, or n-Ch is the well!
,nown receptor found at the neuromuscular junction.
# -t this receptor, acet%lcholine acts directl% to open an ion
channel producing a fast e)citator% posts%naptic potential.
# -cet%lcholine is e)citator% at nicotinic receptors.
# It causes s,eletal muscle to contract.
# 9ne t%pe of cholinergic muscarinic receptor, or m-Ch
is found in the central ner&ous s%stem and on most
effector organs of the paras%mpathetic branch of the
ner&ous s%stem.
# -cet%lcholine acts indirectl% at these m-Ch receptors
producing a slow e)citator% posts%naptic potential.
# -cet%lcholine is e)citator% at these muscarinic
receptors, causing neurons to fire action potentials, and
smooth muscle to contract.
# - second t%pe of m-Ch receptor is found in the central
ner&ous s%stem, and in the heart.
# -cet%lcholine acts indirectl% at these receptors,
producing a slow inhibition of the posts%naptic cells.
# In the heart, this effect decreases the heart rate.
# -cet%lcholine is inhibitor% at these muscarinic receptors
causing neurons to h%perpolari.e, and the heart to slow
down.
# 'he action of acet%lcholine ma% be e)citator% or
inhibitor%. 'he effect depends on which receptor is
present on the posts%naptic cell.
Page 9. Norepinephrine and its Receptors
# 'here are two families of receptors for
the neurotransmitter norepinephrine,
alpha receptors and beta receptors.
# Each famil% member is identified b% its
letter and a number.
# 'hese are called adrenergic receptors,
and norepinephrine acts indirectl% when
binding to them.
# Both alpha and beta adrenergic receptors
are found in the central ner&ous s%stem,
and more importantl%, on effector organs
of the s%mpathetic ner&ous s%stem.
# *orepinephrine acts indirectl% at alpha!one
receptors to produce slow e)citation.
# 'his causes smooth muscle to contract.
# -lpha!one

receptors are located on blood
&essels, which suppl% the s,in, mucosae, and
abdominal &iscera.
# *orepinephrine is e)citator% at alpha one
receptors.
# *orepinephrine also acts indirectl% at beta!one receptors in the
heart to produce slow e)citation.
# 0eart rate and strength of contraction increase.
# *orepinephrine is e)citator% at beta one receptors.
# *orepinephrine acts indirectl% at
beta!two receptors, to produce a
slow inhibition.
# 'his causes smooth muscle to
dilate.
# Beta!two receptors are located on
the respirator% airwa%s, blood
&essels that suppl% s,eletal muscle
and heart, and most other effector
organs of the s%mpathetic s%stem.
# *orepinephrine is inhibitor% at
beta!two receptors.
# 'he action of norepinephrine ma%
be e)citator% or inhibitor%. 'he
effect depends on which receptor is
present on the posts%naptic cell.
Page 10. Introduction to Location and Function of Neurotransmitters
# (e ha&e learned that acet%lcholine and
norepinephrine are found in the central
ner&ous s%stem and at effector organs of the
ner&ous s%stem.
# 9n the ne)t few pages, we will re&iew the
location and function of these
neurotransmitters in the peripheral ner&ous
s%stem.
# 'hen we will loo, into the central ner&ous
s%stem to learn the functions of these and
other neurotransmitters.
Page 11. Neurotransmitters in the Peripheral Nervous System
# /otor neurons of the somatic ner&ous s%stem release acet%lcholine.
# 'he% are cholinergic.
# $,eletal muscles bear n-Ch receptors.
# 'hus the action of acet%lcholine on s,eletal muscle is direct, fast, and e)citator%.
# 'he first of two neurons in the s%mpathetic chain, the preganglionic neuron, is cholinergic.
# 'he first of two neurons in the paras%mpathetic chain, the preganglionic neuron, is also cholinergic.
# 'he second neuron, or postganglionic neuron, in both the s%mpathetic and paras%mpathetic chains, has
n-Ch receptors.
# 'hus the action of acet%lcholine on postganglionic neurons is direct, fast, and e)citator%.
Continue to Synaptic Transmission Part II
(Separate PDF Document)