Functions of nervous system

Sensory neurons

CNS

Motor neurons

Perception

Integration

Action

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Structure of a Neuron

Cell body Dendrites

Conduct impulses toward cell body Carries electrical impulse away from cell body May be covered by Schwann cells
Forms discontinuous myelin sheath along length of axon

Axon

Synapse

Contact points between axon of one neuron and dendrite of another neuron

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Structure of a Chemical Synapse

Synaptic cleft Signal passes from presynaptic to postsynaptic cell neurotransmitter

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Two types of signaling pathways

Cell surface receptors Intracellular (nuclear) receptors

Signal Concentration

< 10-8M

High receptor Affinity

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Resting Potential

Resting potential Donnan Equilibrium -70mV Determined by balance between sodium and potassium concentrations Sodium/Potassium pumps Separate sodium and potassium channel proteins

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Resting Potential
Positive charge

Electrochemical gradient

Negative charge

Sodium gradient Potassium gradient

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Sodium potassium dependant ATPase

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An Action Potential

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So what changes during an action potential?

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Squid Giant axon

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Sodium enters nerve during AP

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Goldman Equation I
E= RT loge zF (PK[K]i)+(PNa[Na]i)+(PCl[Cl]o)

(PK[K]o)+(PNa[Na]o)+(PCl[Cl]i)

E=Potential across membrane R=Universal gas constant T= Absolute temperature oK z=Charge F=Faradays constant At 25oC, RT/ZF = 25

During Resting potential

PK=1 PNa=0.0013 PCl= 0.0017 (i=400mMo=20) (i=50 (i=90 o=440) o=560)

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So what is the Resting potential?

Goldman Equation II

During Action Potential

PK=1 PNa=100 PCl= 0.0017 (i=400mM (i=50 (i=90 o=20) o=440) o=560)

What is the potential across the membrane?

E= RT loge zF (PK[K]i)+(PNa[Na]i)+(PCl[Cl]o)

(PK[K]o)+(PNa[Na]o)+(PCl[Cl]i)

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Ion Channels

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Several types of ion channel

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Potassium channel

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Potenti al

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Sodium Channel Blockers

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Potassium Channel Blockers

Nerve conduction velocities

u K d

u=velocity K=constant d=diameter True for nonmyelinated neurons

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Myelin sheath

Cat motor neuron

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Myelinated neuron velocity is dependent upon size

However, related to inter-node distance, not diameter Inter-node distance greater in large axons

Non-myelinated neuron velocity related to square root of diameter

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Neurotransmitters

Must be released by pre-synaptic cell Must elicit effect on post-synaptic cell Agonists should work the same way Must be removed after action

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Deactivation of Acetylcholine

Enzyme. Acetylcholinesterase

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Chemically gated ion channel

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Acetylcholine gated ion channel

Pore formed by 5 homologous subunits Ringed by helices (leucines) forming gate Acetylcholine binding changes gate conformation

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Calcium ions cause vesicle transport

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Axon Hillock
Determines sensitivity to stimulation High number of ion channels

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Effect of ion channel density on membrane threshold

# of channels opened

To generate an AP, a certain number of sodium ions must cross membrane Determined by number of open sodium ion channels Ion channels have varying voltage sensitivities (normal distribution)

Potential mV

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Threshold dependent upon ion channel density

Cell One (Red)

Cell Two (Blue)

10,000 channels per mm2 Must generate enough potential to open 1/100th

# of channels opened

1,000 channels per mm2 Must generate enough potential to open 1/10th

Potential mV

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Axon Hillock
Determines sensitivity to stimulation High number of ion channels

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Spatial summation

Excitatory input

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Integration of excitatory and inhibitory inputs

Spatial summation

Excitatory and Inhibitory input

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Temporal summation

Allows integration of signals in time

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Nerves define stimulus strength by the number of impulses generated Increased pre-synaptic input elevates post-synaptic potential at hillock Leads to elevated rate of AP generation down axon Can be modulated for accommodation