A NOTE ABOUT THE STUDY GUIDE: Be aware that although the study guide helps review concepts, it is not all inclusive and other items emphasized in class and the readings and NOT in the study guide may appear on the exam. The study guide is therefore a good place to BEGIN exam preparation.

General approach

Review the study guide.

Review your text. Know the meaning of all words in the boxes, and italicized.

Spend time looking at the figures and tables, because they summarize the text. Be able to explain the figures, what they mean and the KEY POINTS they illustrate.

Study your notes and all the relevant chapters.

Additional readings in the Zuhl library about cells and electrophysiology will be covered on the exam if they were the basis for lecture topics.

Think about what you have learned, talk about it in a study group!

A.  CELLS: GLIA AND NEURONS

This material on neuronal and glial cell biology, while only a few chapters in the required textbook, is rich in concepts and detail. Be sure you understand clearly what has been covered, as all your knowledge will build on these fundamental concepts (or unfortunately, misconceptions!).

How are neurons classified? What are the major classification schemes for neurons?

Be able to describe in detail the anatomical specializations that distinguish neurons from other cells. In what ways are neurons similar? remember to think about microdomains, membrane and cytosolic proteins and neuronal lipids.

How do the structural and functional properties of dendrites and axons differ?

What are the different types of glia? of astrocytes? What is the role of astrocytes in the brain?

Briefly describe the pathway for protein synthesis of transmembrane proteins such as ion channels beginning with transcription in the nucleus and ending with a cell membrane.

List the major components of the neuronal cytoskeleton. What are molecular motors and why are they important for cells?

B.   PASSIVE AND ACTIVE ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF NEURONS

What is the role of the Na/KATPase in maintenance of membrane rest potential? In the action potential?

What are the properties of resistors and capacitors? How is the membrane like a parallel RC circuit? What is the time constant? what parameters will influence its value?

How can a Nernst potential be represented by a battery and resistor?

What are some of the different kinds of firing patterns that are found in neurons? What is meant by stimulus/frequency response curves?

Understand how the Hodgkin Huxley voltage clamp experiments were conducted. Be able to answer the following:

How does the Na channel/conductance respond to depolarization? the K channel/conductance?

Contrast the V and t dependence of the Na and K channels/conductances.

What is the shape of the ion currents for each of these under voltage clamp?

How would you take a voltage clamp record of ion current vs. time and convert it to a conductance vs. time trace?

What is the ionic basis of the action potential? explain the shape, threshold, peak, refractory period, and afterhyperpolarization in terms of voltage and time dependent conductances

What is the length constant? what axonal properties can influence the length constant? what equation(s) describe the length constant? what factors affect action potential conduction velocity?

Explain saltatory conduction. discuss the importance of the length constant, time constant, myelination and ion channel distribution in this phenomenon. what is the velocity of most action potentials?

What is the patch clamp method and what are some of the advantages of using this method? what is meant by unitary channel conductance? what equation relates single channel conductance to single channel current? how can macroscopic currents be explained by single channel conductance measurements?

What are some of the different kinds of ion channels? what is their structure? what are similarities and differences between ion channels in their structure? how do subunits relate to channel structure? how can ion channels be distinguished from one another? what are some of the ways channels can be gated?