Lesson # 10

Synaptic Transmission
Before you proceed; make a label drawing of a synapse to show the following.

 Presynaptic neuron
 Post synaptic neuron
 Synaptic cleft
 Synaptic vesicles
 Receptors on post synaptic neuron

Introduction

A synapse is a junction between two neurons or between a neuron and an effector.

Two types of synapses have been identified namely electrical and chemical. (We will focus on chemical
synapses.)

The majority of synapses are chemical synapses. In a chemical synapse, the synaptic cleft is about 20nm
wide (less than one millionth of an inch). When an action potential reaches the end of an axon, it cannot
jump the gap. The electrical signal must therefore be converted into a chemical one.

Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that conduct the signal across the synapse, and bind to
receptors (i.e. chemically activated ion channels) in the membrane of the post synaptic neuron.

Neurotransmitters

There are more than 60 different chemical compounds known to function as neurotransmitters. These
include acetycholine, serotonin and dopamine.

Cells that release acetycholine as a neurotransmitter are called cholinergic neurons and the synapses
cholinergic synapses.
Transmission across cholinergic synapse

1. Neurotransmitters are stored in the synaptic terminals within small membrane bounded sacs
called synaptic vesicles.

2. Each time an action potential (nerve impulse) reaches a synaptic terminal, voltage gated calcium
channels open.

3. Calcium ions from the extracellular fluid then flow into the synaptic terminal.

4. The Ca2+¿ ¿ ions cause the synaptic vesicles to fuse with the pre-synaptic membrane and release
the acetycholine molecules into the synaptic cleft by exocytosis.

5. The acetycholine molecules diffuse across the synaptic cleft and combine with specific receptors
on the post synaptic neuron
The acetycholine receptor is an ion channel that permits the passage of Na and K ions .This
+¿¿ +¿¿

allows for the post synaptic membrane to be depolarized and the impulse to be conducted
along.

6. Excess neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft must be removed. Excess acetyceholine is

degraded into it’s chemical components, choline and acetate, by the enzyme
acetycholinsterase.
The neurotransmitters are repackaged in vesicles and recycled.

Review Question

1 .With a well illustrated diagram, explain the transmission of an impulse across a cholinergic
synapse. Make special reference to the role of Ca2+¿ ions.¿

2. Compare the transmission of an impulse along a myelinated neuron and a non-myelinated

neuron.