CSB332H1 Lecture Notes - Electrical Synapse, Chemical Synapse, Neurotransmitter
Document Summary
Synaptic transmission (ch. 11, 12: a: also called gap junctions. Fusion of connexion prots other either side of membrane, physically clamp together, allow direct current flow: very useful for fast response or synchronized activity (reflexes, ex. fish or invertebrate tail flips) Energetically expensive: b: majority of synapses are chemical, more complex. Presynaptic terminal = bouton/knob; expansion containing active zones: act pot opens voltage-gated ca channels flows in, required for vesicle release, coined term synapse, won nobel prize in 1932 for neuron work. Student of john heccles (nobel prize of basis of act pot: voltage-gated ca channels highly concentrated in presynaptic bouton. Eqm pot for ca ~ eqm pot for na. Electrochem grad & conc grad for ca similar to that of na. So act pot opens ca channels (+) charge flows in; needed for snare complexes (at vesicles & membrane, allow fusion w presynaptic membrane) to allow release once fused: docked vesicles exocytosis.