NEUROPHYSIOLOGY 1

BASIC FUNCTION OF SYNAPSE

& TRANSMITTER SUBSTANCES

dr. I Dewa Ayu Inten Dwi P.,M.Biomed

Bagian Fisiologi FK UNUD
Central nervous
system neuron 
the basic
functional unit
Neuron carry
electrical signal
Neuroglia support
for neuron

Fg.neuron. Guyton & Hall, 2006

Soma, a single axon,
the dendrites
Dendrites receive
signals
NEURON COMMUNICATE AT
SYNAPSE
SYNAPSE HAS 2 PART :
The axon terminal of the
presynaptic cell
The membrane ogf the
postsynaptic cell
there are an electrical
synapse and a chemical
synapse
Nerve action potential
• Nerve signal are transmitted by action
potentials
• The action potential are rapid changes ( in the
membrane potential) and spread along the
nerve fiber membrane
• Begins with a change from the normal resting
negative membrane potential to a positive
potential; then end with back to the negative
potential
 Central nervous system synapses
• Type of synapses : The chemical synapses (>>) &
the electrical synapse
• Chemical synapse
– neurotransmitter ; turn acts on receptor proteins in
membran of the next neuron to excite the neuron
– One-way conduction
• Electrical synapse
– direct open fluid channels that conduct electricity
from one cell to the next
An action potential causes transmitter
release from the presynaptic terminals
• Role of calciums ions
• The presynaptic membrane contains voltage-
gated calcium channels
• Presynaptic terminals : lie on the surfaces of
the dendrites & soma of the motor neuron
• Transfer information at the synapse
• Calsium is the signal for neurotransmitter release at
the synapse
• The neurotransmitter are release into the synaptic
cleft by exocytosis
Role of receptor proteins on the postsynaptic
neuron
• The receptor protein molecules have two
component :
– A binding component
– An ionophore component :
• An ion channel :
– allows a specific type of ions through the membrane
– Kanal anion & kanal kation
• A second messenger activator: a molecules that
activates substances inside the postsynaptic neuron
The pump and Leakage of potassium and sodium
through the nerve membrane
Second messenger system in the postsynaptic neuron
Chemical substances as synaptic
transmitters
• Small-molecule, rapidly acting transmitters
– An acute responses
– Synthesized in the cytosol of the presynaptic
terminal  absorbed into the vesicle
• Neuropeptide; slowly acting transmitters or
growth factors
– Prolong actions
 Small-molecule, Rapidly Acting
Transmitters
Class I Acetylcholine
Class II : The amines -Noreepinephrine
-Epinephrine
-Dopamine
-Serotonine
-Histamine
Class III : Amino Acids -GABA
-Glycine
-Glutamate
-Aspartate

Class IV Nitric oxide (NO)

Recycling of the small-molecule
types of vesicles
 Neuropeptide, Slowly Acting Transmitter or Growth Factors
Hypothalamic- TRH
LHRH
releasing hormones Somatostatin

Pituitary peptides - ACTH -LH

-Β-endorphin -Thyrotropin
-α-melanocyte -GH
stimulating hormone -Vasopressin
-Prolactin -Oxytocin

Peptides that act on -Leucine enkephalin -VIP

-Methionine enkephalin -Nerve growth factor
gut and brain -Substance P -Brain derived neurotropic
-Gastrin factor
-Cholecystokinin -Neurotensin
-Insulin -Glukagon

From others tissue -Angiostensin II

-Bradykinin
-Carnosine
-Sleep peptides
-Calcitonin
 Neuropeptides
• Are not synthesized in the cytosol of the
presynaptic terminal  synthesized as integral
parts of large-protein molecules by ribosomes in
the neuronal cell body
• The neuropeptides cause prolong action
– Prolong closure of calsium channels, prolong changes
in the metabolic machinery of cells, prolonged
changes in activation/deactivation of specific genes,
prolong alterations of excitatory/inhibitory receptors
 Neural electrical event

• Three state of a neuron

– Resting neuron, an excited state neuron, an
inhibited state neuron
• Neuronal excitation or inhibition
A diffusion potential across a nerve fiber
membrane
• A. caused by diffusion of potassium ions from inside the cell to
outside through a membrane that is selectively permeabel only
to potassium
• B. permeabel only for sodium ions
The internal membrane potential is negative
when potassium ions diffuse & positive when
sodium ions diffuse
A. Resting membrane
potential of the
neuronal soma
neuron
-With a normal
intraneuronal potential
of -65 mV
-Three ions most
important for neuronal
function : sodium ions,
potassium ions,
chlorides ions
 B. Neuron in an excited state
• Presynaptic terminal secretes an excitatory transmitter  into
the cleft ; acts on the membrane excitatory receptor  ↑ the
membrane permeability to Na+.
• The resting membrane potential has increased in the positive
direction ( -45 mV)
• Called The excitatory postsynaptic potential ( EPSP)  initiates
an action potential in neuron
 C. Neuron in an inhibited state
 More negative intraneuronal membrane potential ( - 70mV)
• The inhibitory synapses open the chlorides channels 
allow chloride influx into the cell & potassium efflux out of
the cell  hyperpolarization
• Called an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
Neuronal inhibition
• Postsynaptic inhibition
– The inhibitory synapses on the postsynaptic
membrane
• Presynaptic inhibition
– Caused by of an inhibitory substances into the
outside of the presynaptic nerve fibril before their
own endings terminate on the postsynaptic
neuron
Fast & slow responses in postsynaptic cells
When a modulatory neuron terminates on or close to an axon
terminal of a presynaptic cell,  EPSP or IPSP can alter the
action potential  reaching the terminal & create presynaptic
modulation
• The action potential is begins in the initial
segment of the axon, where the axon leave
the neuronal soma  then its travels
peripherally along the axon ; & also backward
over the soma.
LEARNING TASK
• Processing of information is one of the most important
function of the nervous system. Role of synapses in thus
processing information?
• Mention the characteristic of ( the most important) small-
molecule transmitters! Where were secreted? What are they
role in neuronal excitation/inhibition?
• Explained mechanism of release transmitter from presynaptic
terminal, how is it effects on the postsynaptic neuron!
• Describe some condition that effect on synaptic transmission!
• Explained about
– Superimposed action potential
– Summation ( spatial & temporal)
– Facilitation of neurons
 THANK YOU
• REFERENCES :
• GUYTON AND HALL . HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
• SHILVERSTOHN DEE