EXAM 1

NAME ________________________
TA ________________________

1) A. (2 points) Define the fundamental principle of the neuron doctrine (1 sentence maximum)
Neurons are discrete, individual cells

B. (2 points) Explain how the existence of synapses supports the neuron doctrine (1 sentence maximum)
Cells are not continuous with other neurons, but must be connected (by synapses) to communicate

2) A. (3 points) List the following in order to show how information travels from one neuron to another starting from the presynaptic axon terminal moving through the post-synaptic cell:
axon proper, dendrite, dendritic spine, soma, axon hillock, synaptic cleft
1. Pre-synaptic axon terminal
2. Synaptic cleft
3. Dendritic spine
4. _Dendrite___________________
5. Soma
6. Axon hillock
7. Axon proper
B. (1 point) What does the abundance of mitochondria in the axon terminal suggest about the metabolic requirements for
the function of this part of the neuron? (1 sentence maximum)
It requires a lot of energy
3) (4 points) The oral type of herpes virus enters the axon terminals of neurons that innervate the lips and mouth, but then
the virus moves to the cell bodies of these neurons where it lies dormant until it is reactivated, usually by stress. What
neuronal process does this virus exploit to make its journey from its entry point at the lips to its resting place in the neurons
somas? Give the general name of the process, as well as the name of the process specific to the direction in which the virus
travels.
General name of process: Axonal or Axoplasmic Transport
Direction-specific name of process: Retrograde Transport

EXAM 1

NAME ________________________
TA ________________________

4) (2 points) All of the following contribute to the resting membrane potential of neurons EXCEPT:
A. ion channels
B. ion pumps
C. leak channels
D. neurotransmitters
E. hydrophobic neuronal membrane

5) Consider a neuron with the following relative ion concentrations:

Ion

Extracellular
Concentration

Intracellular
Concentration

Low

High

K+
Na+

High

K+

K+

Na+

Na

Low

For each of the scenarios listed below, indicate whether the resting membrane potential of the neuron would be positive,
negative, or 0mV.
A. (2 points) The membrane is permeable only to Na+
positive

B. (2 points) The membrane is impermeable to all ions

0mV

6) (8 points) Fill in the following table with Yes or No for each of the properties of the Na+/K+ pump and voltage-gated Na+
channel.

Is it ATP-dependent?

Yes

Voltage-gated Na+
channel
No

Does it move Na+ down its concentration gradient?

No

Yes

Is it a membrane-bound protein?

Yes

Yes

Is it active/open when the neuron is at its resting membrane potential?

Yes

No

Property

Na+/K+pump

EXAM 1

NAME ________________________
TA ________________________

7) You discover a new species that has a new type of neuron. You determine that there are 3 ions primarily responsible for
changes in membrane potential (see the chart below). You have determined the intracellular and extracellular
concentrations of each ion and have calculated the equilibrium potential for each. You have also found that the resting
membrane potential is -20mV.
Ion
XY2+
Z+

Extracellular
150mM
700mM
4mM

Intracellular
15mM
7mM
40mM

Equilibrium Potential
-61.5mV
61.5mV
-61.5mV

Use this information to answer the following questions (A-C) about the new neuron:
A) (2 points) When the cell is at rest, if a channel selectively permeable to Z+ opens, which direction will the ion
flow?
Out of the cell
B) (2 points) If you increase the concentration of ion X- outside the cell two fold, what will be the effect on the
equilibrium potential of the ion? Circle the correct answer.
1. It will become more positive
2. It will become more negative
3. It will stay the same
C) (2 points) If the permeability for X- at rest is increased, what will the effect be on the membrane potential of the
cell? Circle the correct answer.
1. It will become more positive
2.

It will become more negative

3.

It will stay the same

8) A. (3 points) Why cant a neuron fire another action potential during the absolute refractory period? (1 sentence
maximum)
Voltage-gated Na+ channels inactivate
B. (3 points) Why is it more difficult for a cell to fire an action potential during the relative refractory period? (1 sentence
maximum)
Membrane potential is hyperpolarized compared to rest

EXAM 1

NAME ________________________
TA ________________________

9) Hodgkin and Huxley used selective blockers of different ion channels to separate the different components of the action
potential. Draw the graphs (A and B) of the current that would result from 2 different voltage-clamp experiments in which a
positive voltage was applied along with TTX, a toxin which blocks voltage-gate Na+ channels. Detail is important.
A. (2 points) Voltage step is maintained

B. (2 points) Voltage step is 5 seconds in duration

0mV

0m 0mV

C. (1 points) Is the current you see in this set of experiments an inward or outward current?
Outward

10) A. (9 points) For each term in the chart below, match the letter from the figure that best corresponds to the term. Next to
this write the ion that is responsible for that phase of the action potential and whether it is moving in or out of the cell.

Letter

Ion

In / Out of Cell?

i. Undershoot

K+

Out

ii. Rising Phase

Na+

In

iii. Falling Phase

K+

Out

B. (2 points) In which phase of the action potential is the driving force on Na+ the
lowest? (Indicate the corresponding letter on the trace of the action potential)
C

EXAM 1

NAME ________________________
TA ________________________

11) Guillain-Barr syndrome is a sudden onset demyelinating autoimmune disorder that targets Schwann cells. Typically
the first symptom of the disorder is symmetrical weakness appearing in the lower limbs, which then progresses in an
ascending fashion.
A. (3 points) State why the loss of Schwann cells results in muscle weakness (1 sentence maximum).
AP cannot efficiently propagate due to decreased saltatory conductance/less membrane
resistance/increased leak.

B. (2 points) Consider that neurons that innervate lower limbs have longer axons than other neurons in the
peripheral nervous system. Provide an explanation for why the disease commonly presents with lower limb
weakness. (1 sentence maximum)
Longer axons are more susceptible to loss of electrical conductance/current leak than shorter
axonslonger distance provides more opportunity for current to leak out of the axon, etc.

12) Lethal injections are carried out by first injecting an anesthetic solution, followed by the injection of KCl. The KCl stops
the heart from beating by greatly increasing the extracellular concentrations of K+ and Cl-. Based on what you know about
the membrane potential and action potentials in neurons and muscle cells, answer the following questions.
A. (2 points) What happens to the equilibrium potential of K+ after the KCl injection?
Increases/becomes more positive

B. (3 points) What happens to the resting potential of neurons after the KCl injection?
Increases/becomes more positive
C. (3 points) Would this change in the resting potential lead to MORE or FEWER action potentials being fired?
Provide a brief explanation relating your answer to the change in resting potential. (2 sentence maximum)
Less APs
Voltage-gated Na+ channels will open with the initial depolarizations, and then will inactivate. Since
cells cannot come back to -65 mV Na+ channels will not deinactivate, and as a result will not be able
to reopen.

EXAM 1

NAME ________________________
TA ________________________

13) You are studying chemical synaptic transmission in a series of mutant animals. You are studying a particular synapse at
which, in normal (wild type) animals, a single action potential in the presynaptic neuron elicits an EPSP in the postsynaptic
neuron, as shown here (same as A below).

For each of the 3 mutants described, select the PSP (A, B, C or D drawn below) that you would expect to see in the
postsynaptic neuron when you stimulate an action potential in the presynaptic neuron. Each letter may be used more than
once.
A

1. (2 points) The mutation eliminates a component necessary for synthesis of the neurotransmitter
D
2. (2 points) The mutation causes the presynaptic neuron to overfill synaptic vesicles with neurotransmitter
C
3. (2 points) The mutation eliminates the function of voltage-sensitive calcium channels
D
14) You are studying a neuron that releases the peptide neurotransmitter, Dynorphin, in addition to releasing glutamate.
A. (1 point) A single action potential reaches the axon terminal of this cell. It only releases one of these two
neurotransmitters. Which one does it release?
Glutamate
B. (2 points) Describe a mechanism by which this cell would be able to release both types of transmitter.
(1 sentence maximum)
A burst or high frequency chain of action potentials must arrive at the terminal

EXAM 1

NAME ________________________
TA ________________________

15) Two neurons, A and B, are connected by exactly one synapse. For each scenario described below, indicate whether the
synapse is electrical or chemical or cannot be determined.

A. (2 points) You depolarize neuron A and measure a hyperpolarization in neuron B.

Chemical
B. (2 points) You hyperpolarize neuron A and measure a hyperpolarization in neuron B.
Electrical
16) Synapses A, B and C all innervate a single post-synaptic cell, D. You conduct several experiments, and observe the
following:
-- = no stimulation
= stimulation
Synapse A

--

Synapse B
-
-

Synapse C
--
-

Action potential in Neuron D?

No
No
No
Yes
No

A. (3 points) Based on these observations, indicate whether each synapse is excitatory or inhibitory
(Circle the correct answer).
Synapse A

Excitatory / Inhibitory

Synapse B

Excitatory / Inhibitory

Synapse C

Excitatory / Inhibitory

B. (4 points) Which synapse in this group is exerting shunting inhibition? Briefly explain how shunting inhibition
occurs, with particular regard for reversal potentials of the synapses involved. (2 sentence maximum)
Synapse C
Synapse C inhibits the depolarization produced by A +B, therefore its reversal potential should be
below the threshold of the postsynaptic cell

EXAM 1

NAME ________________________
TA ________________________

17) (4 points) Imagine that you are studying the effect of norepinephrine (NE) in different brain regions. When you apply NE
to neurons in one part of the brain, you notice that the neurons depolarize; however, when you apply NE to a different part
of the brain, those neurons hyperpolarize. In general terms, briefly explain how the same neurotransmitter can have
opposite effects on the membrane potential of different neurons. (2 sentence maximum)
The neurotransmitter is acting through different metabotropic G-protein coupled receptors in the two
different brain regions, which have opposing downstream actions. These differing downstream actions are
responsible for the opposing effects on the membrane potential.

18) You are studying a single neuron in isolation. Its resting membrane potential is -65 mV. In each of the following
scenarios, state 1) what ions will flow, 2) which receptors they flow through, and 3) in what directions they flow. Please
include ALL relevant ions, and be specific about which channel(s) each flows through.
If no ions will move across the membrane, then you do not need to indicate the relevant receptors or direction of flow.
A. (3 points) The neuron expresses both AMPA and NMDA receptors. You add NMDA to the extracellular solution.
No ion flow

B. (3 points) The neuron expresses both AMPA and NMDA receptors. You add glutamate to the extracellular
solution.
Na+ will flow into the cell through AMPA receptors and NMDA receptors
Ca2+ will flow into the cell through NMDA receptors
(Also accept K+ out through both receptors, but not necessary for full credit)
C. (3 points) The neuron expressed both AMPA and NMDA receptors. You add glutamate to the extracellular
solution while voltage clamping the cells membrane at -70 mV.
Na+ flows into the cell through AMPA receptors