Question

Glutamate neurotransmitters are released to a synaptic cleft between two neurons that is 140 nm wide. Within the synaptic cleft, initially there is no neurotransmitters present. After they are released from the pre-synaptic neuron, you find that the average flux of the neurotransmitters within the cleft is 2.5 x 10−4 mol/m2·s towards the post-synaptic neuron. The diffusion coefficient for Glutamate in the synaptic cleft is 8 x 10-10 m2/s.

1)Find the concentration of this neurotransmitter close to the pre-synaptic neuron right after they are released.

2)To make the synaptic transmission more efficient in the synapse, you want to increase the flux of neurotransmitters reaching the receptor channels of the postsynaptic neuron. If you were able to change any one of the parameters at the synapse site, which one of the parameters would you change and how? Briefly explain why.

Answer 1

1. The concentration of the neurotransmitter near the presynaptic neuron will be as follows:

2. If the concentration of the neurotransmitter has to increase then the synaptic cleft width should be increased as the distance between synaptic cleft is proportional to the concentration and need more neurotransmitter to carry out the work. Thus, the overall concentration near the pre-synaptic neuron will raise.