Synapsis

THE SYNAPSE
Where nerve impulses convert to neurotransmitters
The Sanger Institute
Animation: Synapse
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2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
What is a synapse?
A synapse is the junction between 2 neurones. There is a very narrow gap of about 20nm
between neurones called the synaptic cleft.
An action potential cannot cross the synaptic

cleft, so nerve impulses are carried by chemicals called neurotransmitters.
The synapse is where the nerve impulse
The electrical signal (the action potential) The chemical messenger is called a
neurotransmitter stops and a chemical signal takes over to cross the gap between the cells
passes from one cell to the next
The neurotransmitter crosses the gap by

diffusion, which creates a small delay
http://glencoe.mcgrawhill.com/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=swf::530::530::/sites/dl/free/0076611841/930317/Chemical_Synapse.swf ::Chemical%20Synapse 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
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.
Designer signals
The advantage of using neurotransmitter

is that the nerve impulse can be given some more specificity
Neurotransmitters can also control the

operation of the nervous system by inhibition or excitation
Many drugs that try to cure problems in

the nervous system operate at synapses
2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Neurotransmitters and hormones
In many ways neurotransmitters are

hormones working over a very short distance (about 20 nm)
Some of them work both at synapses

and in the circulatory system
A Synapse
Pre-synaptic neurone = neurone sending impulse Post-synaptic neurone = neurone receiving impulse
Cholinergic Synapses
Acetylcholine is a
common transmitter. Synapses that have acetylcholine transmitter are called cholinergic synapses. more than 1 synapse.
Some neurones form
This is an electron
micrograph of synapses between nerve fibres and a neurone cell body.
1. Action potential arrives at terminal button Vesicle storing neurotransmitter
Ca2+ channel
Membrane receptor for neurotransmitter
Dept of Biology, Saint Louis University
2. Depolarisation opens Ca2+ channels Ca2+ enters terminal button
3. Ca2+ stimulates vesicles to fuse with membrane
Ca2+
Ca2+
Ca2+
Ca2+
4. Exocytosis of neurotransmitter It diffuses 20nm across the synaptic cleft
The passage across the synapse

An action potential travels down an axon to the The action potential depolarises the membrane of a
terminal buttons or synaptic knobs at the end
Ca2+ ions flood into the terminal button This stimulates hundreds of synaptic vesicles, packed By exocytosis The Ca2+ ions are then pumped out again
terminal button causing voltage-gated Ca2+ channels to open
with neurotransmitter, to fuse with the membrane of the terminal button
5. Neurotransmitter receptor sites on the postsynaptic membrane are ion channels. They open when the neurotransmitter binds
6. Localised depolarisation as ions leak in or out of membrane.
The passage across the synapse
The neurotransmitter diffuses across cleft The neurotransmitter molecules bind with The receptor sites are part of a ligandgated ion channel specific receptor sites on postsynaptic membrane
to postsynaptic membrane
These channels let Na+ ions in or K+ ions out

causing localised depolarisation of the membrane
7. Action potential generated which travels down the postsynaptic cell.

8. Neurotransmitter destroyed by enzymes in the cleft. Stops signal being perpetuated.
A new action potential
If the localised depolarisations build up to
the nerve cell threshold, a full action potential will be produced This will travel away, down the postsynaptic neurone The action of the neurotransmitters stops: (i) as they dilute by diffusion in the synaptic cleft (ii) by hydrolysis through the action of enzymes there Important: The signal must not be perpetuated indefinitely
Figure 48.15
Presynaptic cell
Postsynaptic cell
Axon 1
Synaptic vesicle containing neurotransmitter
Postsynaptic membrane
Synaptic cleft Presynaptic membrane
3 K Ca2 2 Voltage-gated Ca2 channel
Ligand-gated ion channels
Na
Figure 48.16
Postsynaptic neuron
Synaptic terminals of presynaptic neurons
5 m
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.
The neuromuscular junction is a synapse
The motor end plate is the terminal button

of a motor neurone that makes contact with a muscle cell
The motor end plate releases the

neurotransmitter acetylcholine that ultimately causes the muscle cell to contract
Motor end plates
David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Chemistry, University of Cincinnati Clermont College
Drugs
Drugs which have molecules of

similar shape to transmitter substances can affect protein receptors in postsynaptic membranes.
Drugs that stimulate a nervous

system are called AGONISTS
Drugs that inhibit a nervous system

are called ANTAGONISTS.
Various effects of drugs on synapses:

DRUG ACTION EFFECT Mimic a neurotransmitter Stimulate the neurotransmitter release of a Switch on a synapse Switch on a synapse Switch on a synapse
Open a neuroreceptor channel
Block a neuroreceptor channel

Inhibit the breakdown enzyme
Switch off a synapse

Switch on a synapse
Inhibit the Na+K+ATPase pump

Block the Na+ or K+ channels
Stop action potentials

Stop action potentials
Effect of nicotine and atropine
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THE SYNAPSE

Where nerve impulses convert to neurotransmitters

The Sanger Institute

An action potential cannot cross the synaptic

The synapse is where the nerve impulse

passes from one cell to the next

The neurotransmitter crosses the gap by

Neurotransmitter is made by the

The membrane of the post-synaptic

The advantage of using neurotransmitter

Neurotransmitters can also control the

Many drugs that try to cure problems in

Neurotransmitters and hormones

In many ways neurotransmitters are

Some of them work both at synapses

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Some neurones form

1. Action potential arrives at terminal button Vesicle storing neurotransmitter

Membrane receptor for neurotransmitter

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Dept of Biology, Saint Louis University

2. Depolarisation opens Ca2+ channels Ca2+ enters terminal button

3. Ca2+ stimulates vesicles to fuse with membrane

4. Exocytosis of neurotransmitter It diffuses 20nm across the synaptic cleft

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The passage across the synapse

terminal button causing voltage-gated Ca2+ channels to open

with neurotransmitter, to fuse with the membrane of the terminal button

6. Localised depolarisation as ions leak in or out of membrane.

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The passage across the synapse

These channels let Na+ ions in or K+ ions out

7. Action potential generated which travels down the postsynaptic cell.

8. Neurotransmitter destroyed by enzymes in the cleft. Stops signal being perpetuated.

A new action potential

If the localised depolarisations build up to

Synaptic vesicle containing neurotransmitter

Synaptic cleft Presynaptic membrane

3 K Ca2 2 Voltage-gated Ca2 channel

Ligand-gated ion channels

Synaptic terminals of presynaptic neurons

Depolarisation of the sarcolemma leads to contraction of muscle fibre.

The neuromuscular junction is a synapse

The motor end plate is the terminal button

The motor end plate releases the

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Motor end plates

Drugs which have molecules of

Drugs that stimulate a nervous

Drugs that inhibit a nervous system

Various effects of drugs on synapses:

Open a neuroreceptor channel

Block a neuroreceptor channel

Switch off a synapse

Inhibit the Na+K+ATPase pump

Stop action potentials

Effect of nicotine and atropine

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