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    Membrane Potentials

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    deha
    This document provides an overview of membrane potentials and action potentials in excitable cells like neurons. It discusses the resting membrane potential, which results from concentration gradients established by ion pumps and the relatively higher permeability of potassium ions. Graded potentials are local changes in membrane potential, while action potentials are rapid, all-or-none signals mediated by voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels. Action potentials propagate along neurons via sequential opening of these channels and have refractory periods that prevent backward propagation.

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    Membrane Potentials

    Uploaded by

    deha
    29 views40 pages
    This document provides an overview of membrane potentials and action potentials in excitable cells like neurons. It discusses the resting membrane potential, which results from concentration gradients established by ion pumps and the relatively higher permeability of potassium ions. Graded potentials are local changes in membrane potential, while action potentials are rapid, all-or-none signals mediated by voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels. Action potentials propagate along neurons via sequential opening of these channels and have refractory periods that prevent backward propagation.

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    This document provides an overview of membrane potentials and action potentials in excitable cells like neurons. It discusses the resting membrane potential, which results from concentration gradients established by ion pumps and the relatively higher permeability of potassium ions. Graded potentials are local changes in membrane potential, while action potentials are rapid, all-or-none signals mediated by voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels. Action potentials propagate along neurons via sequential opening of these channels and have refractory periods that prevent backward propagation.

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    29 views40 pages

    Membrane Potentials

    Uploaded by

    deha
    This document provides an overview of membrane potentials and action potentials in excitable cells like neurons. It discusses the resting membrane potential, which results from concentration gradients established by ion pumps and the relatively higher permeability of potassium ions. Graded potentials are local changes in membrane potential, while action potentials are rapid, all-or-none signals mediated by voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels. Action potentials propagate along neurons via sequential opening of these channels and have refractory periods that prevent backward propagation.

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    Membrane Potentials

    Faculty of Dentistry
    Nervous System

    Assoc. Prof. Güvem GÜMÜŞ AKAY


    guvemakay@gmail.com

    Ankara University School of Medicine


    Department of Physiology
    Lecture outline
    • Resting membrane potential
    • Ionic basis of resting membrane potential
    • Equilibrium potentials
    • Nernst equation
    • Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation
    • Graded potentials
    • Action potentials
    • There is an electrical potential difference between the two sides of
    the membrane in all body cells: Membrane Potential
    • Some cells (excitable cells) such as nerve and muscle cells can rapidly
    and transiently change their membrane potential and generate
    electrochemical impulses.
    Intracellular and extracellular ion
    concentrations in a typical mammalian cell
    Resting Membrane Potentials
    The phospholipid membrane and membrane proteins
    The Movement of Ions

    Ionic movements through channels are influenced by two factors:


    Diffusion and Electricity.
    Diffusion

    The movement of ions across the membrane by diffusion, therefore, happens when
     The membrane has channels permeable to the ions
     There is a concentration gradient across the membrane.
    Electricity
    • The movement of electrical charge is called
    electrical current (I)
    • Two important factors determine how much
    current will flow:
    • Electrical potential (voltage, V)
     is the force exerted on a charged particle
     reflects the difference in charge between the anode
    and the cathode.
    • Electrical conductance (g, Siemens)
     is the relative ability of an electrical charge to
    migrate from one point to another
     depends on the number of ions or electrons available
    to carry electrical charge, and the ease with which these
    charged particles can travel through space
    • Electrical resistance is simply
    the inverse of conductance
    • The relative inability of an
    electrical charge to migrate.
    • It is represented by the symbol R
    and measured in units called
    ohms (Ω).

    Ohm’s law

    I= g.V

    I=V/R
    Driving an ion across the
    membrane electrically requires:
    Channel proteins permeable
    to that ion (to provide
    conductance)

    Electrical potential difference


    across the membrane
    The Ionic Basis of The Resting Membrane Potential

    • Membrane potential (Vm): the


    voltage (i.e. electrical charge
    difference) across the cell
    membrane at any moment.
    • Sometimes Vm is «at rest»:
    Resting membrane potential
    • At other times it is not (e.g. during
    graded and action potential)
    • Vm = - 65 mV
    Equilibrium Potentials
    20X
    Ionic equilibrium potential , or
    simply equilibrium potential is the
    electrical potential difference
    that exactly balances an ionic
    concentration gradient

    E ion.
    EK = - 80 mV.
    If the concentration difference across the membrane is known
    for an ion, the equilibrium potential can be calculated for that
    ion: NERNST EQUATION
    Ions are driven across the membrane at a rate
    proportional to the difference between the membrane
    potential and the equilibrium potential

    Ionic driving force = Vm- Eion


    Relative ion permeabilities of the membrane at rest

    The resting membrane potential can be If the resting permeability to K+ is


    calculated using the Goldman-Hodgkin- 40 times greater than its to Na+,
    Katz equation, that takes into then solving the Goldman
    consideration the relative permeability equation yields:
    of the membrane to different ions.
    • Membrane potential depends on
    the ionic concentrations on both
    sides of the membrane.
    • How do these concentration
    gradients arise?

    Ionic concentration gradients are


    established by the actions of ion pumps
    in the cell membrane
    Resting membrane potential
    • RMP is generated largely Inside of the cell becomes negative with
    respect to the outside.
    because of the movement of
    K+ out of the cell down its
    concentration gradient
    through K+ leak channels.
    • The plasma membrane is more
    permeable to K+ in resting state
    than Na+ because the membrane
    has more leak channels for K than
    for Na+
    • Hydrated form of K+ is smaller than
    hydrated form of Na+
    Resting membrane potential
    Inside of the cell becomes negative with
    • The Na+–K+ pump contributes respect to the outside.
    only indirectly to the resting
    membrane potential by
    maintaining, across the cell
    membrane, the Na+ and K+
    concentration gradients that then
    produce diffusion potentials.
    • The direct electrogenic contribution
    of the pump (3 Na+ pumped
    +
    out of
    the cell for every 2 K pumped into
    the cell) is small (˜20%).
    • Since the plasma membrane is
    imperable to proteins so A- are
    inside the membrane
    Graded Potentials and Action Potentials
    Stimulus change
    the membrane
    permeability
    Two types of signals are produced
    by a change in membrane potential
    The membrane,
    for only a moment, Graded potentials (short-distance
    becomes more
    permeable to Na+ signals)
    than to K + Action potentials (long-distance
    signals)
    Cause to brief
    reversal of resting
    membrane potential.
    The inside of the
    membrane becomes
    positively charged
    relative to the
    outside.
    Basic terminology for membrane potential changes
    Term Meaning

    Polarization Outside and inside of a cell have a different net charge

    A decrease in the potential difference between the inside and


    Depolarization outside of the cell

    Less negative potential

    An increase in the potential difference between the inside and


    Hyperpolarization outside of the cell

    More negative membrane potential

    Repolarization Returning of membrane potential to the resting value

    Overshoot When the inside of the cell becomes positive due to the reversal
    of the membrane potential polarity
    What makes a cell excitable?

    • Gated ion channels

    • Gated channels give a cell the ability to produce electrical signals


    (excitability) that can transmit information between different regions
    of the membrane(excitable membranes-neuronsandmusclecells)
    Voltage-gated channels
    • Have sequences of charged amino acids
    that make the channels reversibly change
    their conformation in response to
    changes in membrane potential
    • At negative potential (during resting) they
    stay closed
    • Membrane depolarization tends to them
    open
    • Voltage-gated Na+ channels respond
    faster and have inactivation gates which
    blocks channel shortly after
    depolarization and opens at
    repolarization
    Graded potentials
    • Changes in membrane potential that are
    confined to a relatively small region of the
    plasma membrane.
    • Usually produced when some specific
    change in the cell’s environment acts on a
    specialized region of the membrane.
    • Magnitude of potential varies directly with
    the magnitude of the triggering event
    • Are given various names related to the
    location of the potential or the function
    they perform
    • Receptor potential
    • Synaptic potential
    • Pacemaker potential
    Can be either depolarizing or
    hyperpolarizing

    Magnitude is related to the


    magnitude of the initiating
    event (graded)

    Charge is lost with the


    distance because of the leak
    channels (predominantly K+)
    Action Potentials
    Large alterations in the
    membrane potential (upto100
    mV)

    Very rapid (1-4 msec)

    Voltage-gated Na+ and voltage-


    gated K+ channels are resposible
    for most neuronal action potential
    Membrane
    depolarization comes
    close to but does not
    reach to ENa

    About 15 mV less
    negative than the
    resting membrane
    potential(−55 mV)
    Action Potential

    -55 mV
    -70 mV
    Action potentials are all-or-none
    Action potentials either occur maximally or they do not occur at all.

    After passing the threshold, all the stimuli triggers same action potentials at
    the same amplitude
    Difference between «weak» and «strong» stimuli

    • Number and patterns of action


    potentials transmitted per unit
    of time (frequency) differs

    • The frequency of action


    potentials (firing rate) depends
    on the magnitude of
    depolarizing current
    Refractory Periods
    Absolute refractory period Relative refractory period
    • During the action potential a second stimulus • Coincides with the after hyperpolarization
    can not produce another action potential
    • A stimulus stronger than normal can produce
    • Voltage-gated Na+ channels are already open action potential
    or in inactive state • Fewer Na+ channels available and some of
    the K+ channels are still open
    Refractory Periods
    Limits the number of action potentials

    Helps separation of action potentials from each other

    Determines direction of action potential propogation


    Propagation of Action Potential

    • Sequential opening and closing of


    voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels
    along the membrane
    • An action potential initiated at one
    end of an axon propagates only in
    one direction; it does not turn back
    on itself.
    • This is because the membrane just
    behind it is refractory, due to
    inactivation of the sodium channels.
    Velocity of Action Potential
    Fiber diameter
    0.5 m/sec  100 m/sec
    Velocity
    small diameter, unmiyelinated fiber = 0.5 m/sec
    Less internal resistance to local •4 sec from toe to brain
    large diameter, myelinated fiber = 100 m/sec
    current •0.02 sec from toe to brain

    Myelination
    Velocity
    Less charge flow between
    intracellular and extracellular fluid
    Different types of action potentials
    References
    • Hall, J. E., & Guyton, A. C. (2016). Guyton and Hall textbook of
    medical physiology. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier.
    • Widmaier E.P., Raff H., Strang K.T. (2019) Vander’s Human
    Physiology. Mc Graw Hill Education.
    • Bear M.F., Connors B.W., Paradiso M.A. (2016) Neuroscience:
    Exploring the Brain. Wolters Kluwer

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