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Cbu Synapses

(1) The document discusses the physiology of synapses, including their components, classification, synaptic transmission, and properties. (2) Synapses are areas of communication between neurons that contain synaptic knobs, clefts, and postsynaptic membranes. They can be classified by their locations and transmit excitatory or inhibitory signals. (3) Synaptic transmission involves the release of neurotransmitters from presynaptic neurons that bind to receptors on postsynaptic neurons, producing graded potentials like EPSPs and IPSPs that influence neuronal excitability. Synaptic properties include convergence, divergence, summation, and different forms of inhibition.

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Darius Mubita Mwangala
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39 views

Cbu Synapses

(1) The document discusses the physiology of synapses, including their components, classification, synaptic transmission, and properties. (2) Synapses are areas of communication between neurons that contain synaptic knobs, clefts, and postsynaptic membranes. They can be classified by their locations and transmit excitatory or inhibitory signals. (3) Synaptic transmission involves the release of neurotransmitters from presynaptic neurons that bind to receptors on postsynaptic neurons, producing graded potentials like EPSPs and IPSPs that influence neuronal excitability. Synaptic properties include convergence, divergence, summation, and different forms of inhibition.

Uploaded by

Darius Mubita Mwangala
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physiology of Synapses

Dr Katek Balapala
, Physiology Department , School of Medicine

1
• Objectives
• At the end of this lecture the student should :
• (1) define synapses and show where they are located .
• (2) describe the parts of a synapse , & what does each part contain .
• (3) know how to classify synapses .
• (4) define synaptic transmitters , give examples of excitatory &
inhibitory ones ; explain how they are released
• (5) explain ionic channels that mediate actions on synaptic receptors .
• (6) explain : EPSP , IPSP , LTP .
• (7) describe properties of synapses such as convergence , divergence ,
spatial & temporal sunmmation , subliminal fringe , types of inhibition
and their physiological significance .
• (8) expalin how acidosis and alkalosis can affect synaptic transmission .

References :Ganong Review of Medical physiology, 23 rd


edition . Barret et al ( eds) . Mc Graw Hill , Boston 2010 .
Page 115 onward

2
• What is a synapse ? It is a n area of communication between
2 neurons .

• What are its components & their function ? does each part of
synapse contain ?

3
Components of a Synapse
Q: What are the components of
a synapse ?

(1) Synaptic knob of the


pre-synaptic cell ( contains
transmitter )

(2) Synaptic cleft (space )


contains enzyme that
destroys the transmitter

(3) Post-synaptic membrane


( contains receptors for the
transmitter )
Classification of Synapses According to Location

, Axo-dendritic , ( 2) Axo-somatic )1(

(3) Axo-
axonicc ,

& less commonly 


(4) Dendro-somatic
(5) Somato-somatic
Q : What is a synaptic transmitter
? ( neurotransmitter )

• A neurotransmitter is a chemical substances


that is released by a neuron ( called presynaptic
cell ) , crosses the synaptic cleft , and binds to
a receptor located on the membrane
( postsynaptic membrane ) of another cell .

6
? Q : What are the types of transmitters
• Excitatory neurotransmitter :
a transmitter that produces excitatory
postsynaptic potential ( EPSP) on the
postsynaptic neuron .
• Inhibitory neurotransmitter :
a transmitter that produces inhibitory
postsynaptic potential ( IPSP ) on the
postsynaptic neuron .

7
• Q : What are EPSP and IPSP ?
• A : They are local responses

• Q : What is their bioelectric nature ?


• A : They are Graded Potentials ( i.e., proportional to the
strength of the stimulus ).

• Q: In what way do they affect the excitability of the


postsynaptic membrane ?
• A: EPSP makes the postsynaptic membrane more excitable
( thus more liable to fire AP ; & IPSP makes it less excitable)

Q: In what ways do they differ from action potentials ?


• (1) They are proportional to the strength of the stimulus
( i.e., do not obey All-or-None Law)
• (2)
8
They can summate ( add up )
 Q : Give examples of excitatory transmitters ?

• (1) Acetylcholine : Opens sodium channels in the


Postsynaptic Cell Membrane  depolarization 
EPSP .

• (2) Glutamate : Produces EPSP by opening of


calcium channels .

 Q : What is long-term-potentiation ( LTP ) ?,


what transmitter is involved in it ? What is the
physiological function of LTP ?

9
Give examples of Inhibitory Tran smitters
• When the inhibitory transmitter combines to its
receptors , it produce Inhibitory Postsynaptic
potential (IPSP) that hyperpolarizes the post-
synaptic cell , thereby making it less excitable
(more difficult to produce APs ) .
• Examples of inhibitory transmitter is
 GABA  which in some places opens chloride
channels , and in others opens potassium channels
 Enkephalin  Inhibitory transmitter . Found in
the GIT and spinal cord . It exerts analgesic
activity, reducing the feeling of pain .
 Glycine ( mainly in spinal cord ) .
Formation of a Transmitter

• Q : In what location of the neuron is the


neurotransmitter synthesized ?
• Q : In what location of the neuron is the
transmitter vesicle synthesized ?
• How are these processes functionally
coupled to produce successful synaptic
transmission ?
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Final Fate of Transmitter
• Q : What happens to the transmitter after it has
combined with its postsynaptic receptors and
produced it physiological effect ?
• It will be destroyed
• Examples :
• In case of Acetylcholine ( Ach) 
Acetylcholinesterase (Ach-esterase) ;
• In case of Norepineohrine (Noradrenaline) 
Monoamine Oxidase ( MAO ) intracellularly ( more
important ) ; or Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase (
COMT ) extracellularly .

12
13
Examples of Factors that Affect
Neurotransmission

• What is the effect of :


• Alkalosis ?
• Hypoxia ?
• Acidosis ?

14
Some Properties of
Synapses & Synaptic
Transmission

15
1/ ONE WAY CONDUCTION

Why ?

2/ SYNAPTIC DELAY

Why ?
Duration in a one synapse ?
What do we mean by total (overall )
synaptic delay ?
How can we determine the number of synapses between
two neurons ?

16
3/ Convergence and Divergence

• What is the importance of convergence ?


• What is the importance of divergence ?

17
4/ Summation ( how the postsynaptic membrane sums
information )  Spatially & Temporally

• Temporal summation
: Repeated afferent
stimuli ( even if from a
single synaptic knob )
cause new EPSPs
before previous EPSPs
have decayed.

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Spatial summation due to
adding up of EPSPs produced
by more than one synaptic
knob . Thus activity in one
synaptic knob facilitates
activity in another.

19
What is the Trigger zone ?
Convergence

Trigger zone ( functional term )


is at the anatomical Axon
Hillockn ( Beginning of the Axon
as it comes out of the Soma )
Inhibition /5
• Explain Presynaptic inhibition ?
Where ?
Neurotransmitter involved ?
• Explain Postsynaptic ( Direct ) inhibition ?

• Describe Inhibitory interneuron ?


Example ?

• Describe Reciprocal Inneirvation , & explain


how it is nstrumental for ( mediates )
Reciprocal Inhibition?
21
Inhhibition )8( A/ Presynaptic Inhibition
An inhibitory neuron , not acting
directly on the target cell , but
makes axo-axonal synapse on an
excitatory ending that ends on the
target cell .
This inhibitory interneuron releases
GABA which acts via either :

(1) GABAa receptors that increase


chloride conductance decreasing
calcium entry into the excitatory
synaptic knob reduced or absent
transwmitter release ; OR

(2) GABAb receptors which , through


G-protein  increase potassium
conductance , thereby decreasing
calcium entry into the synaptic knob
22
of the excitatory neuron.
Presynaptic , Postsynaptic ( Direct )
& Reciprocal Inhibition

23
Feedback Inhibition ( Renshaw Cell Inhibition )
• Neurons may also inhibit
themselves in a negative feedback
fashion ( Negative Feedback
inhibition ).
• A spinal motoneuron gives a
GABA collateral that synapses Renshaw
cell which is inhibitory interneuron
, located in the anterior horn of
spinal cord .
• Then Renshaw cell , in turn ,
sends back axons that inhibit the
spinal motoneuron .
• These axons secrete an inhibitory
transmitter that produces IPSPs
on cell-bodies of motoneurons and
inhibit them .
24
The Renshaw cell
• Is located in anterior horn
in close association with
motor neurons.
• it is an inhibitory cell
excited by collaterals from
an alpha motor neuron to
project back and inhibit
the same motor neuron
(negative feedback
fashion).

25
! Thanks

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