Question

After neurotransmitter release what are all the potential processes that neurotransmitter could experience? Include the two ways the neurotransmitter could be deactivated. What would happen if one of those mechanisms were not functioning?  

Answer 1

Neurotransmitter release-

- Neurotransmitters are the endogenous substances which are released from neurons that acts on receptor sites present on membrane of postsynaptic cells and produces functional change in the target cell.

- A small vesicles are present on the pre synaptic membrane called active zones, where release of neurotransmitter occurs.

- When neurotransmitter releases from the storage vesicles to synaptic cleft, the fusion takes place in which vesicle membrane and pre synaptic membrane connect to form small pore .

- After that the pore grows larger and vesicle membrane releases its content into the synaptic cleft i.e the process of exocytosis takes place.

Neurotransmitter deactivation-

- Deactivation of neurotransmitter occurs in four different ways-

- In the first way, diffusion occurs where the neurotransmitter diffuses away from synaptic cleft and is no longer available to bind to receptor.

- In the second way, degradation of the neurotransmitter occurs due to the enzyme present in the synaptic cleft.