Membrane potential:
Neurons & other excitable cells
1
Membrane
potential
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Membrane_potential
2
http://www231.pair.com/fzwester/courses/bis10v/week10/restingpotential.gif
Ions cannot normally cross membrane by
diffusion, must cross via channels / pumps
3
Measuring
Membrane
Potential
http://slideplayer.com/slide/5688364 / 4
Ion Movement Causes Electrical Signals -
based on changes to membrane potential
Temporary changes in permeability cause ion movement across
membrane
• Triggering events cause Permeability changes:
• Stimulus – sound wave reaching nerve ending in ear (mechanical gates)
• Change in electrical field near an ion channel in an excitable cell (voltage
gates)
• Interaction of chemical messenger with receptor on a neuron or muscle cell
membrane (ligand gates)
5
Changes to Membrane Potential
6
Changes to Membrane Potential
• Depolarization:
- Influx of ions – gated channels open
- Cell becomes less negatively charged inside (more
positive)…(e.g. Moves from -70 to -30 mV)
• Repolarization:
- Cell is returned to its normal polarized state….
(e.g. -70 mV)
- Hyperpolarization:
- Cell becomes more negatively charged inside than at rest
(even more negative)….(eg -90 mV)
7
Neuron Structure
• Cell body contains cytoplasm & organelles
• Dendrites receive incoming information
• Axon relays information to nerve terminal
• Terminal branches of axon synapse with another cell 8
Much of what we know about how neurons work comes
from experiments on the giant axon of the squid
100-1000 times larger than mammalian axons – up to 1 mm diameter
11
• Axoplasm removed
• Refilled with varying concentrations of sodium
12
Methods: Studying ion channels - patch clamping
• Uses a fluid-filled glass electrode
• Detach a patch of membrane containing an ion
channel and study its activities
13
Patch clamping:
14
15
16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF7Vd5olw18
17
Neurons have different ion channels in different regions
Ligand-gated
channels in
dendrites and
cell body
• Voltage-gated channels
• Na+ channels in
dendrites & along axon
• Ca++ channels in
membrane near axon
terminals
18
Graded Potentials
Graded Potentials Action Potentials
19
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Axon_hillock.html
20
21
Different Regions of a Neuron Display Different
Types of Electrical Signals
• Graded Potentials:
• serve as short distance signals
• Bidirectional.
• Can be cumulative
• In dendrites & cell bodies
• Action Potentials: unidirectional - signal over longer distances.
All or nothing response – in axons
22
Graded Potentials
• Based on the opening of gated-ion channels
• The stronger the triggering event, the more
gated channels open
• The longer the duration of the triggering
event, the longer the duration of the graded
potential
• Depolarization or hyperpolarization may
occur
23
Length and strength of graded potentials proportional to
stimulus
24
Graded Potentials
• Spreads in a decremental fashion, decreasing strength over
distance from initial site
• Bidirectional
• In neurons graded potentials occur in dendrites and cell
bodies when gated ion channels open
• If strong enough, graded potentials may induce an Action
Potential in the axon
25
Graded
Potential
26
Graded Potential
Fig. 4-4
27
• If graded potentials are strong enough they may trigger
an action potential at axon hillock
Axon hillock has high [ ] of voltage-gated Na+ channels
28
