LIFESCI 2C03 Chapter 5: LS2CC3_CH5 notes
16 Feb 2016
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Electrical synapses: current flows through gap junctions. Chemical synapses: cell to cell communication via the secretion of neurotransmitters. Cycle of neurotransmitter: synthesis and packaging into synaptic vesicles, release from presynaptic cells (via influx of ca, vesicle fuse with presynaptic membrane) Presynaptic and postsynaptic linked together by an intercellular specialization (where the current flows passively), called a gap junctions. Gap junctions: aligned, paired channels called connexions (hexametric complexes) that forms a pore. Pores are large enough for atp + 2nd messengers to pass through ->allow intracellular signaling. 2 properties of electrical synapses: transmission is bidirectional, transmission is extraordinarily fast (w/o a delay as in chemical synapses) Purpose: to synchronize electrical activity among populations of neurons. Synaptic cleft (space between pre and postsynaptic neurons) is bigger in. Synaptic vesicles are produced within the presynaptic terminal. Vesicles are filled with 1 or < neurotransmitters which acts as messengers. Experiment that electrical are transmitted through chemical synapses:
