THE SYNAPSE

Where nerve impulses convert to neurotransmitters

The Sanger Institute

Animation: Synapse
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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
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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

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

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

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

Ca2+

Ca2+

Ca2+

Ca2+

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

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

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
2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

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.

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

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
2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

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

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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
2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

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

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

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

Thank You