Lecture 3

Lecture 3
LECTURE 3
BY
DR\MINERVA ISKANDER
Synaptic and junctional transmission
Agenda
Definition of synapes*
Types of synapes*
Pre &postsynaptic structure and function*
Synapse
It is the site of transmission of electric nerve*

impulses between two nerve cells (neurons)
or between a neuron and a gland or muscle
cell (effector)
Important definitions
:Pre synaptic neuron*

The presynaptic neuron is the neuron that opens the
synapse and mainly functions in releasing the
neurotransmitters
Postsynaptic neuron
Is the neuron that takes part in receiving the
neurotransmitter during the nerve impulse
transmission. The postsynaptic neuron receives the
neurotransmitter at the synapse to facilitate the
.transmission of the action potential
Synaptic cleft
The space between two neurons across which*

the impulse is transmitted by a
neurotransmitter
Types of synapes
Although there are many kinds of synapses within the*

brain, they can be divided into two general
classes: electrical synapses and chemical
.synapses
Electric synapes
Electrical synapses permit direct, passive*

flow of electrical current from one neuron
.to another
An electrical synapse features a channel
made of proteins. This protein channel is
.called a gap junction, or a pore
It is rare at human*
Chemical synapes
Chemical synapses are the most common synapses in *

the human body. The chemical synapse
uses chemical messenger
molecules to generate an electrical signal.
These messengers that are generated in the
postsynaptic cell are called neurotransmitters.
They diffuse into the synaptic cleft to bind to
receptors to open gates that allow ions to flow into
the postsynaptic cell. Receptors are specialised
protein channels that only allow positively or
..negatively charged ions into the cell
Chemical synapses Electrical synapses
Found in both lower and higher

.Found in higher vertebrates
.vertebrates and invertebrates
Impulse is transmitted using a

.Impulse is transmitted using ions
.neurotransmitter
.Unidirectional transmission .Bi-directional transmission
Gaps between cells are around 20

Smaller gaps - only 3 - 5 nm
nm
Transmission is relatively slow - Transmission is fast - almost

.several milliseconds .instant
.Either inhibitory or excitatory .Excitatory
.Signal remains strong .Signal will disappear over time
.Sensitive to pH and hypoxia .Insensitive to pH and hypoxia
Relatively less vulnerable to

.Vulnerability to fatigue
.fatigue
Cell attachment
: Types of attachment between two cells include

Axodendritic: The axon of one neurone connects to the dendrites, *
.by far the most common synapse in the human body
Axosomatic: The axon of one neurone connects to the cell *
.membrane of the body of another cell
Axo-axonic: The axon of one neurone connects to the axon of *
.another neurone. Usually, these are inhibitory synapses
Dendro-dendritic: These are dendrite connections between two *
.different neurones
Neuromuscular: The axon of one neurone connects to a muscle. *
These types of synapses are highly specialised and causes muscle
.contractions
Synaptic and junctional transmission
Impulses are transmitted from synapses linking one

neuron (presynaptic cell) with another neuron,
.muscle, or gland (postsynaptic cell)
E.g:At chemical synapses, an impulse in the
presynaptic axon causes secretion of a chemical that
diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to
receptors on the surface of the postsynaptic cell. This
triggers events that open or close channels in the
membrane of the postsynaptic cell, mediating
.excitation or inhibition
Neuro transmitter
Inside the presynaptic terminal are many

mitochondria, as well as many membrane-enclosed
vesicles, which contain neurotransmitters. There are
three kinds of synaptic vesicles: small, clear
synaptic vesicles that contain acetylcholine, glycine,
GABA, or glutamate….. The vesicles and the proteins
contained in their walls are synthesized in the
neuronal cell body and transported along the axon to
.the endings
:Acetylcholine
After it has been released in the synapse, there are
.receptors at post synaptic membrane
.There are two types of receptors*
Muscarinic*
Nicotinic*
Cholinesterases
It is enzyme occurs at the synaptic cleft it’s function is*

to break down the acetylcholine to be reuptake by
.the neuron which release it
A cholinesterase inhibitor (or "anticholinesterase")
suppresses the action of the enzyme. Because of its
essential function, chemicals that interfere with the
action of cholinesterase are potent neurotoxins,
causing excessive salivation and eye-watering in low
doses, followed by muscle spasms and ultimately
death (examples are some snake venoms, and the
nerve gases sarin )
,Myasthenia gravis
In myasthenia gravis, your

immune system produces
antibodies that block or
destroy many of your
muscles' receptor sites
for a neurotransmitter
called acetylcholine
Types of synaptic potentials
:Excitatory postsynaptic potentials are*

Synaptic inputs that depolarize the postsynaptic cell,
bringing the membrane potential closer to threshold
.and closer to firing an action potential
Inhibitaroy postsynaptic potential
An inhibitory postsynaptic potential is a kind of*

synaptic potential that makes a postsynaptic neuron
.less likely to generate an action potential
Grand post synaptic potiential
The total potential in the postsynaptic neurons. They*

comprise of EPSP (excitatory postsynaptic potential)
.as well as IPSP (inhibitory postsynaptic potential)
If the excitatory and inhibitory inputs are equal they*
will negate each other…… so postsynaptic membrane
.potential remain at resting level
If excitatory input is more than inhibitory input the*
.membrane potential will have action
If excitatory input is less than inhibitory input the *
.membrane potential will be in inhibitory state
Characters of synaptic transmission
:Forward direction)1
Impulses are conducted at the synapse in one way*
.directed only from presynaptic to postsynaptic
:Synaptic delay)2
It is time taken by impulse to be conducted through
: the synapse this is due to
The release of chemical transmitter-
Its union with receptors-
opening of the gates-
Fatigue)3
It is decreased rate of impulse discharged after
repetitive stimulation, this may be due to exhaustion
of synaptic vesicles or inactivation of postsynaptic
receptors
THANK YOU

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Lecture 3

It is the site of transmission of electric nerve*

:Pre synaptic neuron*

The space between two neurons across which*

Although there are many kinds of synapses within the*

Electrical synapses permit direct, passive*

Chemical synapses are the most common synapses in *

Found in both lower and higher

Impulse is transmitted using a

.Unidirectional transmission .Bi-directional transmission

Gaps between cells are around 20

Transmission is relatively slow - Transmission is fast - almost

.Either inhibitory or excitatory .Excitatory

.Signal remains strong .Signal will disappear over time

.Sensitive to pH and hypoxia .Insensitive to pH and hypoxia

Relatively less vulnerable to

: Types of attachment between two cells include

Impulses are transmitted from synapses linking one

Inside the presynaptic terminal are many

It is enzyme occurs at the synaptic cleft it’s function is*

In myasthenia gravis, your

:Excitatory postsynaptic potentials are*

An inhibitory postsynaptic potential is a kind of*

The total potential in the postsynaptic neurons. They*

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