Synapse and Communication Between Nerve CellsBig Ideas: #2 and #4

Site of Chemical Signal: Synapse

Types: Excitatory vs. Inhibitory

Serotonin Functions in Humans• Mood• Linked to both depression and

anxiety• How can it link to both?

• Suppresses insulin release• Promotes sleep• Restricts blood vessels• Increases peristalsis

• How does depression affect the whole body?

Serotonin in C. elegans Model Organism• Serotonin controls egg-laying…Why?• Serotonin rich environments—food available• Serotonin poor environments—food not

available

• Might serotonin have similar effects on human sexual reproduction?

Model Synapse: Serotonin

Effect of Drugs on Serotonin Synapse

• Non-controlled drugs and their effect on the synapse:• LSD• MDMA

• Role of SSRI’s• What are prescription

medications?• What do SSRI’s treat?• Why are SSRI’s important yet

a “band aid” for depression?

Investigating NeurotransmittersNeurotransmitter E or I? Summarize

ActivityDiseases How might

drugs alter effects?

Serotonin Inhibitory Mood, sleep, apetite control

Depression SSRI: Block re-uptake

Acetylcholine

Dopamine

Glutamine

GABA

Norepiniphrine

Summary:

Formative Assessment• Pick a neurotransmitter that interests you!• Draw a synapse to show its function.• Drug Design: Identify 3 ways the effects of that

neurotransmitter could be altered by a drug.• At least one must upregulate the effects of the neurotransmitter.• At least one must downregulate the effects of the

neurotransmitter.• The drugs cannot “mimic” the neurotransmitter itself…it is hard

to control dosage of this (most illegal drugs mimic NT’s)

*HINT: What does this sound like?