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Related Concept Videos

Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
Synaptic Signaling01:12

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...
The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
Electrical Synapses01:28

Electrical Synapses

Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

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Vibrodissociation of Neurons from Rodent Brain Slices to Study Synaptic Transmission and Image Presynaptic Terminals
08:38

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Published on: May 25, 2011

Diffuse and specific tectopulvinar terminals in the tree shrew: synapses, synapsins, and synaptic potentials.

Haiyang Wei1, Sean P Masterson, Heywood M Petry

  • 1Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America.

Plos One
|August 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Tree shrew pulvinar neurons receive distinct visual signals from the superior colliculus (SC). Unique synapsin content in tectopulvinar terminals enables dynamic visual signal relay.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Visual System
  • Synaptic Plasticity

Background:

  • The pulvinar nucleus receives topographic and diffuse projections from the superior colliculus (SC).
  • Distinct synaptic arrangements exist between SC terminals and pulvinar neurons.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Characterize physiological and structural properties of SC synapses in the tree shrew pulvinar.
  • Relate synaptic properties to visual signal transmission.

Main Methods:

  • Electrophysiological recordings to measure excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs).
  • Immunohistochemistry for synapsin and vesicular glutamate transporters.
  • Anterograde tract tracing.

Main Results:

  • Two distinct EPSP types identified, correlating with specific and diffuse SC terminals.
  • Synapses showed differences in latency, threshold, and response to frequency-dependent depression.
  • Tectopulvinar terminals uniquely contain both synapsin I and II, unlike other inputs.

Conclusions:

  • Convergent synaptic arrangements and unique synapsin content in tectopulvinar terminals facilitate dynamic visual signal relay from the SC.
  • Synaptic properties suggest differential roles in visual information processing.