Synapses - Neuronal plasticity - Long term potentiation

6 important questions on Synapses - Neuronal plasticity - Long term potentiation

What is the function of the AMPA receptor on synapses?


When it's activated the channels open up and Na+ will enter the cell and K+ will go out of the cell, to cause the cell to depolarise.

What does the NMDA receptor do when its activated?

When the NMDA receptor is activated Ca2+ and Na+ will go into the cell and K+ will go out of the cell which will cause Ca2+ influx and intracellular signalling.

What does the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) do?

When it's activated it will modulates the excitability and plasticity of neurons by acting on AMPAR en NMDAR receptors
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What is needed to produce more AMPA receptors in the postsynaptic membrane?

The activation of PI3K is needed. When there is a high activity of PI3K more AMPA receptors will be formed and inserted into the membrane.

How does long-term potentiation (LTP) take place?

  1. Action potential start in a presynaptic neuron.
  2. glutamate neurotransmitter is released in the cleft.
  3. The glutamate transmitters bind to the AMPA and NMDA receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.
  4. The AMPA receptors activates (Na+ in K+ out) which causes depolarisation
  5. More Na+ will cause release of Mg2+ and thus activation of NMDA receptor which causes the influx of Ca2+
  6. More AMPA receptors will be formed and stored in the membrane of post synaptic neuron and stronger connections are formed.

How does stimulation of synapses after firing of action potential causes long term depression?

When there is stimulation after firing of an action potential there will not be enough depolarisation for the removal of the Mg2+ in all the NMDA receptor but there will be a small influx if calcium into the cell which causes the AMPAR receptors to internalise and thus no depolarisation will take place.

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