Physiological Science 111A

Foundations in Physiological Science

Professor: Ketema Paul
Winter 2021
Lecture 1-Introduction
Instructor: Ketema Paul

Office: 1014 Terasaki Life Science Building

Email: ketema.paul@ucla.edu

Office Hours: 2:00-3:00 pm Tuesdays, Thursdays; Online

Office Link:
https://zoom.us/j/562157927?pwd=bFJOZ2tZVE1EZlFOb1BvL2RsSkd
Vdz09
This course will focus on excitable cells
[e.g. nerve cells (neurons) and muscle
cells (myocytes)], which have a
membrane potentials (Vm) that can be
modified for the purpose of signaling
and sending information.
The cell membrane is a highly selective filter that:
Ø Actively maintains unequal concentrations of ions across it
Ø Serves as a filter that allows nutrients to enter and waste to leave the cell

It has two main components:

1. Phospholipid bilayer (3 classes of common lipids)
a. Phosphoglycerides: most abundant; have glycerine backbone;
amphipathic molecules -have a polar, hydrophilic head; and two
non-polar, hydrophobic tails, e.g. phosphatidyl choline
Other 2 classes of common lipids include:
b) Sphingolipids–have a sphingosine backbone; amphipathic molecule,
e.g. sphingomyelin
c) Sterols–non-polar, e.g. cholesterol

-Singer-Nicolson Fluid-Mosaic model of the membrane Based on the spontaneous

organization of amphipathic molecules

Phospholipid Bilayer:

1 Å = 10-10m
2. Proteins form an integral part of the membrane

Membrane Protein Function

The membrane is impermeable to ions. Proteins allow the passage of

ions through the membrane.

Functions:
a) enzymes – catalyze reactions
b) receptor molecules - for hormones, etc.
c) passive channels/pores – allow entry/exit of substances through
the membrane
d) pumps – active transport across the membrane
e) carriers – passive transport: the protein binds the ion and
transports it by diffusion or rotates to flip the ion to the other side of
the membrane
f) recognition molecules
Singer-Nicolson Fluid Mosaic Membrane Model
 Membrane Function

Membranes divide cells into physically separate compartments,

which allows:

1) Control of solute concentrations

2) Storage of energy to do work

1) chemical energy – by establishing concentration or
electrochemical gradients
2) electrical energy – by establishing charge separation

ØThis sets up membrane potential

 Passive Diffusion

Passive Diffusion
-permeation: the passive diffusion of solutes across a barrier

Fick’s Law of Diffusion: dS/dt = Px(C1-C2)

Ø dS/dt: the amount of a substance crossing a unit area/unit time

(Mol/cm2s)

Ø Px: permeability constant of the membrane to x (cm/s)

Ø C1-C2: change in concentration across the membrane (Mol/cm3)

 Permeability Constant

Px depends on how soluble a solute is in the membrane – non-polar

substances have a greater Px than polar substances, thus they are MORE
permeable
 Early Neuroscientists

Two important scientists:

1) Santiago Ramón y Cajal (Spain)

- the Neuron Doctrine: the nervous system is made up of discreet
signaling elements (neurons)

2) Camillo Golgi (Italy)

-discovered and developed histological staining techniques –cells are
impregnated with silver grains (Golgi stain)

Ø Cajal and Golgi shared the 1906 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine
for their work
The Membrane as a Circuit
 Membrane Channels
The brain exhibits three principle types of behavior:
1) Sensory
2) Movement
3) Cognitive
-All are based on electrical processes

The membrane itself has a very high resistance – channels may be considered
as variable resistors in the membrane.

Channel types:
1) Open Channels (or Leakage Channels)
2) Gated Channels
1) Voltage-gated
2) Ligand-gated
3) Stretch-activated or mechanosensory (MS)
 Active Transport

Active Transport

Performed by “pumps” which require energy e.g.

Na+K+-ATPase (Na+-K+ Pump)
Ø Requires ATP for energy
Ø Active in absorption/secretion and maintaining
Vm
Ø Pumps 3Na+ (out):2K+ (in)

Blocked by cardiac glycosides:

1) From dried leaves of foxglove plant-digitalis
2) From Strophanthus plant-ouabain
3) CGs found in venom of certain toads
 Origin of the Resting Potential
Cell membrane is selectively-permeable (this means at rest, it is mostly
permeable to potassium)
Ø Remember, membrane potential is measured as the difference in voltage across the
membrane - that is, it is the potential of the inside of the cell relative to the outside (typically
Vm= -70 mV) where the outside is conventionally taken to be at ground (0 V)
Ionic concentrations (mM) in a typical mammalian muscle cell:
 Derivation of the Nernst Equation
Use K+ to show the equations which describe the forces
Nernst Equation, Cont’d