Neurons communicate with each other using Snap Chat, no wait, using graded poten
ID: 302876 • Letter: N
Question
Neurons communicate with each other using Snap Chat, no wait, using graded potentials and action potentials. What is the difference between the two? Small molecule neurotransmitters such as gamma aminobutyric acid is involved in many synapses. Where is this amino acid found? What drugs are often designed around the regulation of this amino acid? How does it work? Explain or draw a picture. Neurons communicate with each other using Snap Chat, no wait, using graded potentials and action potentials. What is the difference between the two? Small molecule neurotransmitters such as gamma aminobutyric acid is involved in many synapses. Where is this amino acid found? What drugs are often designed around the regulation of this amino acid? How does it work? Explain or draw a picture.Explanation / Answer
Difference between graded potential and action potential are as follows:
GRADED POTENTIAL
1. Depending on the stimulus, graded potentials can be depolarizing or hyperpolarizing.
2. Duration of graded potentials may be a few milliseconds to seconds
3. Ion channels responsible for graded potential may be ligand-gated or temperature sensitive channels or may be channels that are gated by cytoplasmic signaling molecules.
4. The ions involved are usually Na+, K + and Cl-
5. In principle, graded potentials can occur in any region of the plasma membrane, however, in neurons, graded potentials occur in specialized regions of synaptic contact with other cells or membrane regions involved in receiving sensory stimuli.
ACTION POTENTIAL
1. It always leads to depolarization of membrane and reversal of the membrane potential.
2. Action potential duration is relatively short;3-5 ms.
3. Voltage-gated Na+ voltage-gated K+ channels are responsible for the neuronal action potential
4. The ions involved are Na+ and Ka+( for neuronal action potential)
5. It occurs in plasma membrane regions where voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels are highly concentrated.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA) is made in the brain from glutamate, and functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter- meaning that it blocks nerve impulse.GABA sends chemical messages through the brain and the nervous system and is involved in regulating communications between brain cells. Glutamate acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter and when bound to adjacent cells encourages them to fire and send a nerve impulse. GABA does the opposite and tells the adjoining cells not to fire, not to send an impulse.
Drugs designed to regulate GABA:
GABA receptors on nerve cells receive the chemical message that helps to inhibit or reduce nerve impulse.
Prescription medications called benzodiazepines bind to the same receptors as GABA. They mimic GABA'S natural calming effects.Diazepam(Valium) and Lorazepam(Ativan), are among the most widely prescribed benzodiazepines for insomnia and anxiety disorders. They slow down the body's central nervous system and cause sleepiness.
Benzodiazepines should be used only as prescribed.T aking too much can lead to shallow breathing, clammy skin, dilated pupils, weak pulse, coma, and death.
Medications used to treat insomnia, including Zolpidem(Ambien) and eszopiclone(Lunesta), work by improving the ability of GABA to bind to GABA receptors in the brain
.