1. Neuromuscular Transmission
starts with AP in the nerve and ends with AP in the muscle
2. Excitation-Contraction Coupling
starts with AP in the muscle and ends with muscular contraction
Synapse
a site where information is transmitted from one cell to another (broad sense)
a junction between two neurons (narrow sense)
consists of the end of a neuron (presynaptic terminal), a small space (synaptic
cleft) and the postsynaptic membrane of another neuron or an effector cell
such as muscle or gland
Information is transmitted by nerve action potential through a succession of
neurons (from one neuron to another). Synapse contains many neurotransmitters
but only one kind for each nerve.
Components of a Synaptic Transmission:
1. Pre-synaptic Neuron first neuron; before the synaptic cleft
has synaptic vesicles (contains neurotransmitter) and mitochondria
neurotransmitter for SKELETAL = acetylcholine
neurotransmitter for SMOOTH/CARDIAC = acetylcholine or
norepinephrine (parasympathetic)
2. Post-synaptic Neuron second neuron; after the synaptic cleft
has receptor proteins, ribosome (protein synthesis)
impulse = action potential = message = conduction = stimulus
1. impulse can be blocked along the way
2. impulse can be replicated if it gets in contact with several neurons resulting to
several outputs
3. integrated with other impulses
Synaptic transmission is complicated compared to neuromuscular
transmission.
1. Electrical Synapses
allow current to flow/jump from one excitable cell to the next via low
resistance pathways between the cells called gap junctions very small
space
Gap junctions are found in CNS, cardiac muscle and in some types of
smooth muscle and account for the very fast conduction in these tissues
contraction occurs in a coordinated manner
bidirectional
gap between the presynaptic cell membrane and the postsynaptic cell
membrane, known as the synaptic cleft.
information is transmitted across the synaptic cleft via a
neurotransmitter, a substance that is released from the presynaptic
terminal and binds to receptors on the postsynaptic terminal
pre-synaptic membrane (neurotransmitter) ; post-synaptic membrane
(receptor protein)
unidirectional (from presynaptic cell to postsynaptic cell ONLY)
synaptic delay is the time required for the multiple steps in chemical
neurotransmission to occur
2+
The change in membrane potential on the postsynaptic cell membrane can be either
excitatory or inhibitory, depending on the nature of the neurotransmitter
released from the presynaptic nerve terminal. If the neurotransmitter is excitatory, it
causes depolarization of the postsynaptic cell; if the neurotransmitter is inhibitory, it
causes hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic cell.
Synthesis of Acetylcholine
choline + acetyl co-enzyme A
acetyltransferase
acetylcholine
acholinesterase
choline
acetate
Synthesis of Catecholamine:
ECF (pre-synaptic neuron)
Tyrosine Dopa Dopamine Norepinephrine Epinephrine
Parkinsons disease
dopamine (inhibitory) deficiency leading to over activity of acetylcholine
tx by L-dopa (Livo dopa)
Strychnine
competes with glycine (normal neurotransmitter in the body that generates
IPSP) at postsynaptic receptor
glycine is sometimes exhibitory in different parts of the brain
always excitation
Tetanus Toxin Clostridium tetani
prevents release of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
GABA is a neurotransmitter that always causes inhibition mostly in the spinal
cord