BT101 – Introductory Biology (NERVOUS SYSTEM)

Dr.Navin Gupta
Dept of BSBE,IIT Guwahati
Email:cngupta@iitg.ac.in

Acknowledgement:

Integrated Lecture from the book Neuroscience by Claudia Krebs et al

and yesteryears BT101 Lectures
 RECAP

• How are proteins formed from AMINO ACIDS

 RECAP

• Proteins formed due to condensation process of amino acids

resulting in a CO-NH (Peptide bond)
 RECAP-QUESTION 2

• Major component of Cell membrane and Few facts

RECAP-Variant Molecules of Cell Membrane
RECAP-Cell Membrane Nature-Lipid is major component

Ability to form bonds with water

Lipids organizing itself to form Bilayer

 RECAP-QUESTION 3

• Function of Endoplasmic Reticulum (Rough and Smooth)

 RECAP-QUESTION 3

Rough endoplasmic reticulum – carry ribosomes that represent sites

of protein synthesis.

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum – function in cholesterol synthesis

and breakdown, fat metabolism, and detoxification of drugs
Reference Books For this Lecture

1. Neuroscience by Claudia Krebs et al

2. Neuroscience by Dale Perves et al

3. https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/what-neuron

4. https://courses.washington.edu/conj/membpot/membranepot.htm
 NERVOUS SYSTEM
a. Neuron

b. Equilibrium Potential, Nernst Equation Expression,

Signal Propagation

c. Graded Potential/Action Potential

d. Central and Peripheral Nervous System

TODAY
Equilibrium Potential/Nernst
View of Neurons Equation, Signal Propagation
Fundamental Unit of Nervous System.
Any Idea?
 Fundamental Unit of Nervous system
Neurons:
a) Receives sensory input from external world and sends commands to our muscles
b) Specialized type of cell for information transfer.
c) Fire action potential (AP) .
Structure of Neuron
❖ Dendrites: Receive signals from
neighboring neurons (like tree branch).

❖ Axon: Transmit Signals to other

neurons (like tree roots)

❖Soma: Has nucleus with DNA where

proteins are made (like tree trunk)

❖Myelin Sheath: Speeds up signal

transmission along axon (like bark of tree)
Reference: https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/what-neuron
Types of Neurons based on Function?
 Neuron Types
❑According to its function it is divided into three types:

➢Afferent neurons (Sensory neurons):

It receives sensory signals from the receptors of the body, which are a group of
cells that can detect the changes, to the CNS.

➢Efferent neurons (Motor neurons):

It transmits signals from the CNS to the effectors of the body such as muscles and
glands in order to react to the changes.

➢Interneurons:
It does the integration of information from afferent neurons and its response
through the efferent neurons.
Types of Neurons based on Structure?
 Neuron Types based on Structure

Multiple processes
from cell body
(Dendrites and axon)

❖ Sensory Neuron:
Axon is split
are pseudounipolar

❖ Motor Neurons
are multipolar

❖Interneurons
One process are multipolar
called Neurite Multipolar are commonly found and Pseudounipolar (also referred to as Unipolar)
from cell body
Reference: https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/what-neuron
Neuron Types in an Organ
(Say in Brain)?
 Neuron Types in Brain based on function?

❖ Some classification possible based on sensory processing like

a)Auditory neuron
b)Visual neuron

❖ Not possible to say that the role of ‘Neuron X’ in the hippocampus (brain
part) is to (for example) let you distinguish between similar but slightly
different memories.

Lots of work still to be done in Brain. Perhaps for you?

Reference: https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/what-neuron
What is Electric potential difference?
 Electric Potential difference

• Electrical potential difference exists when there is net separation of charges

between two locations. Unit is Volt.

Images: https://courses.washington.edu/conj/membpot/membranepot.htm
Membrane Potential In Neurons ?
 Membrane Potential in Neurons
• Changes in their membrane potentials are used to code and transmit information
across neurons.

Differential Ion concentrations

across cell membrane

https://courses.washington.edu/conj/membpot/membranepot.htm
Equilibrium Potential-Nernst Equation
Equilibrium potential: Channels in neuronal membrane

Ion Transporters: Select one ion type and moves them inside or
outside of the cell (creating concentration gradient)

Ion Channels: Can allow any or specific ions :

Content from book: Neuroscience by Dale Perves et al
 But in Reality for Humans and Squids
Semi permeable membrane (specific to K+) with Concentration Gradient

Diffusion force
equals
electrophoretic
force

For squid
Yellow circles are positive
neuron
K+ charges
(Rp) =-58mv

Figure from book: Neuroscience by Dale Perves et al

Equilibrium Potential-Nernst Equation
Equilibrium Potential-Nernst Equation
 Equilibrium Potential-
Nernst Equation

NO NET MOVEMENT OF
IONS ACROSS THE CELL
MEMBRANE
 What is Membrane potential
(If No concentration gradient)
 No Concentration Gradient;
Membrane potential = 0

Assume the neuron cell

membrane is packed into a
compact box and connected to
Voltmeter

Figure from book: Neuroscience by Dale Perves et al

In reality with other ions
But in Reality for Humans and Squids (All Ions)

Figure from book: Neuroscience by Dale Perves et al

In Reality for Humans All Ions(Resting membrane potential)
 Resting
membrane
potentials varies
from around -
60mv to -80mv
over time

Excellent animation http://courses.washington.edu/conj/membpot/potential_an.gif

Resting Membrane Potential (Important Ion)

For human neuron

-65 mv to -70 mv
What is Use of Membrane Potential in Neuron

Need?
 Use of Membrane Potential in Neurons
Changes in their membrane potentials are used to code and transmit information
across neurons.

Membrane Potential is developed

in each and every neuronal cell
(brain or muscle)

When sitting or relaxing we

consume no energy.

https://courses.washington.edu/conj/membpot/membranepot.htm
 Signal Propagation Between Neurons
• The process of sending signals
takes place in two steps: within the
cell (graded/action potential) and
between cells (neurotransmitters)

• Action potentials travel in neurons

cell as an electrochemical cascade, Neurotransmitters
allowing a net inward flow of between cells
positively charged ions into the
axon.
Action potential
within Axon

Graded potential
within dendrite/soma

Images: Khan Academy

 Signal Propagation Between Neurons
• Chemicals known as
neurotransmitters (glutamate, (Neurotransmitters/Synapse)
dopamine) are stored in membrane-
bound vesicles at the axon terminal of
neurons.

• Get released when Ca​2+ enters the

axon terminal and act by binding to
receptors on the membrane of the
postsynaptic cell.

• Neurotransmitters are “Excitatory”

firing a target neuron (Glutamate)
“Inhibitory” making a target
neuron less likely to fire Image: cnx.org
(GABA).
 Next Class we get into GRADED/ACTION POTENTIAL

Study how 100 billion Neurons are firing of nearly 50 action potentials per second
thereby controlling what we do, how we think, move muscles, listen to lecture
classes ☺ ☺
 THANKS

ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL

Email:cngupta@iitg.ac.in