Transmission through AMPA and NMDA receptors:

1. Tettanic stimulation of the presynaptic neuron will eventually lead to the release of glutamate into the synaptic cleft and will bind to AMPA and NMDA receptors

2. Binding to AMPA receptors open the channel and allow an influx of Na ions which depolarise the postsynaptic terminal

3. This depolarisation allows the displacement of a blocking Mg+ ion from the NMDA channel and along with glutamate binding will lead to the influx of Ca through the channel

4. Ca activates 2 kinases: PKC and calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CamKII) which leads to mechanisms which increases the synapses response to stimulation by:

5. Changes in synaptic structure>> increase in dendritic spines

6. Increasing the conductance of AMPA receptors by phosphorylation (via CamKII/ PKC)

7. Insertion of new AMPA receptors via exocytosis (CamKII activated- see below)

	Created by Cher Bachar over 11 years ago

Synaptic plasticity Note on General synaptic platicity, created by Cher Bachar on 03/05/2013.