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Monday, March 7, 2011

Stages of neurotransmission in the brain

Stages of neurotransmission in the brain
1. Action potential depolarizes the axonal terminal.
2. Depolarization produces opening of voltage-dependent calcium channels.
3. Calcium ions diffuse into the nerve terminal and bind with specific proteins on the vesicular and neuronal membranes.
4. Vesicles move towards the presynaptic membrane and fuse with it.
5. Neurotransmitter is released into the synaptic cleft by a process of exocytosis and activates receptors on adjacent neurons.
6. The postsynaptic receptors respond either rapidly (ionotropic type) or slowly
(metabotropic type) depending on the nature of the neurotransmitter.

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