Synaptic transmission involves the release of neurotransmitters from presynaptic neurons, diffusion across the synaptic cleft, and binding to receptors on postsynaptic neurons. The effects depend on the type of receptor. Acetylcholine acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter at nicotinic receptors but can be excitatory or inhibitory at muscarinic receptors. Norepinephrine can be excitatory at alpha-1 and beta-1 receptors but inhibitory at beta-2 receptors. The document reviews the details of synaptic transmission and the locations and functions of various neurotransmitters in the peripheral and central nervous systems.
Synaptic transmission involves the release of neurotransmitters from presynaptic neurons, diffusion across the synaptic cleft, and binding to receptors on postsynaptic neurons. The effects depend on the type of receptor. Acetylcholine acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter at nicotinic receptors but can be excitatory or inhibitory at muscarinic receptors. Norepinephrine can be excitatory at alpha-1 and beta-1 receptors but inhibitory at beta-2 receptors. The document reviews the details of synaptic transmission and the locations and functions of various neurotransmitters in the peripheral and central nervous systems.
Synaptic transmission involves the release of neurotransmitters from presynaptic neurons, diffusion across the synaptic cleft, and binding to receptors on postsynaptic neurons. The effects depend on the type of receptor. Acetylcholine acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter at nicotinic receptors but can be excitatory or inhibitory at muscarinic receptors. Norepinephrine can be excitatory at alpha-1 and beta-1 receptors but inhibitory at beta-2 receptors. The document reviews the details of synaptic transmission and the locations and functions of various neurotransmitters in the peripheral and central nervous systems.
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)