The Synapses

SMS1084
Dr. Mohanad R. Alwan
 SYNAPSES
A. Introduction
1) A synapse is a junction between 2 nerve cells or a nerve cell and a muscle cell.
 Usually these are formed between axon terminals and cell dendrites or body.

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B) Anatomy of A Synapse
1) Synaptic knob with transmitter vesicles and presynaptic membrane.
2) Synaptic cleft.
3) Postsynaptic membrane with receptors for transmitters.

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C) Function of The Synapse
1) Electrical impulse in knob causes influx of Ca++ ,
vesicles rupture, release transmitters.
2) Transmitters diffuse across,cleft attach to receptors.

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3) Receptors open gates for ions.
a) Can be direct
b) May be indirect via G-proteins (which diffuse from
receptor to ion channel.)
4) Transmitters can be broken down, taken up by presynaptic
membrane or diffuse away.

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 Electrical Synapses
• Electrical synapses are formed when two neurons
are connected by gap junctions (syncitia).
• These are very rare in mammalian adult nervous
systems.
– Primarily found in the control of certain eye
movements
• These are more common in the developing fetal
nervous system.
 Chemical Synapses
• Chemical synapses convert the electrical signal (AP) into
a chemical signal (neurotransmitter) that is transmitted to
the next cell.
• Chemical synapses are unidirectional.
– Neurotransmitter released by one neuron
– Neurotransmitter signal interpreted by other neuron
• The connection made at a chemical synapses contains a
small gap (20-50 nm) between the connected neurons
called a synaptic cleft.
View of The Chemical Synapse &
Function
 Neurotransmitter
• Neurotransmitter is made by the
pre-synaptic neurone and is
stored in synaptic vessels at the
end of the axon.
• The membrane of the post-
synaptic neurone has chemical-
gated ion channels called
neuroreceptors. These have
specific binding sites for
neurotransmitters.
 D) Transmitters
1) Acetylcholine was first discovered, there are many others.
2) Monoamines
a) The catacholamines: dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine?
b) Serotonin

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3) Amino acids
a) glutamate
b) GABA and glycine - inhibitory
4) Amines such as acetylcholine and histamine.
5) Polypeptides such as enkephalins and endorphins.
6) Gases such as nitric oxide and CO.

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Neurotransmitters
E) ONE-WAY CONDUCTION
1) Synapses make nervous system a one- way system -
dendrites do not have neurotransmitter vesicles.
2) Synaptic delay

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 POSTSYNAPTIC POTENTIALS

• The interaction of neurotransmitters with their receptors

can cause changes in the membrane potential.
• The response to a given neurotransmitter depends on the
type of receptor present on the postsynaptic site.
• Excitatory postsynaptic potentials cause a depolarization
of the membrane (EPSP).
• Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials cause a
hyperpolarization of the membrane (IPSP).
Types of Postsynaptic Potentials
G) Synaptic Integration
1) Most synapses involve many neurons.
2) Whether or not postsynaptic membrane has an action potential is dependent upon algebraic sum of EPSPs and
IPSPs.

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3) Spatial summation occurs when numerous synaptic knobs release their transmitters.
4) Temporal summation can occur if neuron releases transmitter rapidly.

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 Cholinergic Synapses

• Acetylcholine is a
common transmitter.
• Synapses that have
acetylcholine transmitter
are called cholinergic
synapses.
• Some neurones form more
than 1 synapse. • This is an electron
micrograph of synapses
between nerve fibres and
a neurone cell body.
 What happens at a cholinergic
synapse? Stage 1
• An action potential
arrives at presynaptic
membrane. Voltage
gated calcium channels
in the presynaptic
membrane open,
calcium ions enter the
presynaptic neurone.
 What happens at a cholinergic
synapse? Stage 2

• Calcium ions cause

synaptic vesicles to
fuse with the
presynaptic
membrane, releasing
acetylcholine into the
synaptic cleft.
 What happens at a cholinergic
synapse? Stage 3

• Acetylcholine diffuses
cross the synaptic cleft
and binds to specific
neuroreceptor sites in
the post synaptic
membrane.
 What happens at a cholinergic
synapse? Stage 4
• Sodium channels
open. Sodium ions
diffuse into the
postsynaptic
membrane causing
depolarisation, which
may initiate an action
potential.
 What happens at a cholinergic
synapse? Stage 5
• Acetylcholinesterase
breaks down
acetylcholine. The
products diffuse back
into the presynaptic
neurone where
acetycholine is
resynthesised using ATP
from the mitochondria.
 Neuromuscular Junctions
• Same stages as
cholinergic synapses, but
in this case the
postsynaptic membrane
is the muscle fibre
membrane,
(Sarcolemma).
Depolarisation of the
sarcolemma leads to
contraction of muscle
fibre.
H) CHEMICALS WHICH AFFECT THE SYNAPSE
1) Many chemicals that affect nervous system do so by affecting synapse.
a)Clostridium botulinum toxin.
b) Clostridium tetanii toxin.
c)Caffeine
d) Anesthetics
e)Strychnine
f) Psychotropic drugs

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 The Role Of Membrane Ion Channels
 Plasma membrane of neurons is filled with channels that allow
specific ions to cross.
 Ion channels fall into 1 of 2 categories:
Passive or leakage channels – usually open and allow
specific ions to pass (i.e., K+).
Gated channels – only open when appropriate signal
received.
 Chemically (ligand) gated channels – only open when the
appropriate chemical or neurotransmitter present.
 Voltage gated channels – only open when the membrane
voltage is at an appropriate level.
Types of Ion Channels
 The Resting Membrane Potential
• If we measure voltage between the inside of a
neuron and the outside we find that the neuron
is more negative inside than outside with a
potential of about –70 mV.
 Source of The Resting Membrane Potential
• The resting membrane potential results from the
concentrations of ions that are in & out of the cell and
the permeability to those ions. The resting membrane
potential is about –70 mV.
 Membrane Potentials

• Neurons use electrical signals to receive, integrate and send

information.
• Electrical potential of the membrane can change
• There are two types of electrical changes to the membrane:
– Graded potentials - short distance
– Action potentials - long distance (through the axon).
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 SS S
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