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)