Communication within a neuron

Presented by Sidra Azim

Increase in the excitatory synapse
Increase in the inhibitory synapse
Measuring Electrical Potentials of axons
Membrane potential:
the electrical charge across a cell membrane , the
difference in electrical potential inside and outside of
the cell.
• The term potential refers to a stored up source of
energy. ( electrical energy)
• The change in membrane potential occurs too rapidly
for us to see using a voltmeter therefore an oscilloscope
is used.
 Measuring Electrical Potentials of axons
Resting potential :
the membrane potential of a neuron when it is not
being altered by excitatory or inhibitory post synaptic
potentials.
 Membrane potential : balance between two forces

The force of Diffusion:

movements of molecules from high concentration region
to a low concentration region .

The force of Electrostatic Pressure :

the attractive force between atomic particles charged
with opposite signs or the repulsive force between atomic
particles charged with the same sign.
Ions in the intracellular and extracellular fluid

Electrolytes:
an aqueous solution of a material that ionizes.
Ions:
A charged molecule.
Cations (positively charged)
Anions (negatively charged )
Anions repel anions and cations repel cations . The force

exerted by this attraction or repulsion is known as

electrostatic pressure.
Ions in the extra cellular and
intracellular fluid

The fluid within the cell and outside the cell contain ions.
The forces of diffusion and electrostatic pressure
contributed by these ions give rise to membrane
potential. ( produced by a balance between the two
forces)
 Ions in the intracellular and
extracellular fluid
Many ions are present in the fluid 4 of them are :
1. organic ions ( A‾) ( found in intracellular fluid because
of impermeability)
2. Chloride ions ( CL ‾) ( found in both predominately in
extracellular)
3. Sodium ions ( Na +) ( found in both mostly
extracellular)
4. Potassium ions ( K +) ( predominantly in intracellular )
 The Action Potential

Polarization :
A neuron is said to be polarized because the voltage
within the neuron (intracellular) is negative relative to the
voltage outside the neuron (extracellular) - when the
neuron is at rest. This means that there is an electrical
difference across the cell membrane
Depolarization

When an action potential occurs sodium ions (Na+)

travel into the cell causing the intracellular area at that
point to become positive relative to the extracellular
area. This process is called 'depolarization'
Hyperpolarization

It is a change in a cell's membrane potential that makes

it more negative.
It is the opposite of a depolarization.
It inhibits action potentials by increasing the stimulus
required to move the membrane potential to the action
potential threshold.
Hyperpolarization is often caused by efflux of K+ through
K+ channels, or influx of Cl– through Cl– channels.
Sodium potassium pump

the mechanism of active transport of sodium (Na+) is

extruded from a cell and potassium (K+) is brought in, so
as to maintain the low concentration of sodium and the
high concentration of potassium within the cell with
respect to the surrounding medium.
Sodium potassium pump
Action potential

the change in electrical potential that occurs between

the inside and outside of a nerve or muscle fiber when it
is stimulated, serving to transmit nerve signals ( –70 mV
to +30 mV)
Properties of action potential

The action potential travels at 2-120m/second.

Approx. 2cm of axon is involved in a single
depolarization.
Speed is governed by the diameter of the axon,
myelination and the number of ion channels.
All-or-None phenomenon – action potentials either
happen completely, or not at all.
 Properties of action potential
The action potential is self-propagating and moves away
from the stimulus (point of origin)
• Irreversible (once action potential is started, it goes to
completion and can not be stopped).
• Non-Decremental (do not get weaker with distance).
 Properties of action potential

Action potential originates

at axon hillock
Properties of action potential

Action potentials are triggered only at the nodes and

jump from one node to the next (upto 120 m/sec).
Phases of the Action Potential
Action potential
Communication between neurons
Synapse & synaptic transmission
 What is a synapse?

A synapse is the
“gap” between the
axon of one nerve
and the dendrite of
the next one.

The average neuron

has 1,000 synapses
with other neurons.
Synaptic transmission

Primary means of communication between

neurons is called the synaptic transmission.
Communication of information is made possible
by movement of chemicals across a small gap
called the synapse. Chemicals, called
neurotransmitters, are released from one neuron
at the pre-synaptic nerve terminal.
Neurotransmitters then cross the synapse where
they may be accepted by the next neuron at a
specialized site called a receptor.
 Types of Synapse

Synapse may be of following types:

a)Axo-dendric (b/w axon & dendrite)
b)Axo-somatic (b/w axon & cell body)
c) Axo-axonic (b/w axon & axon)
 Synapse

Neurons pass the impulse

across synapse through
chemicals called as
neurotransmitters.
At the synapse the electrical
signals coming from nerve
fiber are converted into chemical
signals, hence the
term electrochemical
neurotransmission.
Synapse

Neurons, through electrochemical neurotransmission

across the synapse, stimulate the dendrites of other
neurons or membranes of other cells.
If a dendrite is stimulated, it sends its message to the
cell body and the message is passed on
If a muscle or gland is stimulated, a reaction occurs in
that organ.
Nerve impulse must cross the gap in order to be passed
on to the next.
 Components of a Synapse

Synapse has three main

components:

Pre synaptic neuronal

membrane.

Synaptic cleft.

Post synaptic neuronal

membrane.
Synaptic Transmission
Synaptic Transmission
Clinical Significance of Synapse

Many psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety

disorders, schizophrenia, substance use disorders etc)
show abnormality in the some part of synapse
(synthesis/storage/release/ reuptake /degradation of
neurotransmitters).

Synapse is the target of most biological therapies for the

treatment of psychiatric disorders.
Release of neurotransmitter

Once action potential occur down the axon something

happens at the terminal buttons.
Synaptic vesicles located at the presynaptic membrane
fuse with the membrane and break open and spill their
contents in synaptic cleft.
0
Activation of receptors

Neurotransmitters produce depolarization and

hyperpolarization in the post synaptic membrane by
diffusing across the synaptic cleft and attaching to the
binding sites of special protein molecules at the post
synaptic membrane called the postsynaptic receptors.
Post synaptic potentials

Post synaptic potentials can be either depolarizing

( excitatory ) or hyperpolarizing ( inhibitory).
Excitatory postsynaptic potential ( EPSP)

When sodium channels are opened, sodium rushes in

and causes a depolarization - an excitatory postsynaptic
potential.
Inhibitory postsynaptic potential ( IPSPs)

Sodium potassium pump maintains a small surplus of

potassium ions inside the cell.
If potassium channels open , some of these will follow
this gradient and leave the cell.
Because K+ is positively charged, its outflow will
hyperpolarize the membrane , producing an inhibitory
post synaptic potential.
Termination of post synaptic
potentials

Termination takes place with the help of two

mechanisms:
Reuptake
Enzymatic deactivation
1. Reuptake
 2. Enzymatic deactivation

Enzymatic deactivation is accomplished by an enzyme

called AChE that destroys the molecules of
neurotransmitter.
AChE destroys Ach by cleaving it into its constituents :
choline and acetate.
One molecule will chop apart more than five thousand
molecules of Ach each second.
Autoreceptors

Auto receptors a receptor molecule located on a neuron

that responds to the neurotransmitter released
 Non synaptic communication :
neuromodulators and Hormones

A naturally secreted substance that acts like a

neurotransmitter except that it is not restricted to synaptic
cleft but diffuses through the extracellular fluid.
Hormone is a chemical that is released by an endocrine
gland and that has effects on the target cells in other
organs .
Both have actions similar to those of neurotransmitters
they bind with active receptors at target cells.
 Non synaptic communication :
neuromodulators and Hormones

Neurotransmitters are released by terminal buttons of

neurons and are detected by receptors a short distance
away.
Neuromodulators are secreted in larger amounts and
diffuse for longer distances modulating the activity of
many neurons in a particular parts of brain.
Neuromodulators affect general behavioral states such
as vigilance, fearfulness, and sensitivity to pain.