Why is it important to clear a neurotransmitter quickly from the synaptic cleft? What might happen to the target muscle cell if the neurotransmitter were NOT cleared? What might happen if neurotransmitter reuptake occured too quickly?
It is important to clear a neurotransmitter quickly from the synaptic cleft for several reasons. The synaptic cleft is the small gap between the presynaptic neuron, where the neurotransmitter is released, and the postsynaptic neuron, where the neurotransmitter binds to receptors. Clearing the neurotransmitter ensures that the signal transmission between neurons is precise and efficient.
If the neurotransmitter were not cleared, it would continue to accumulate in the synaptic cleft, leading to prolonged stimulation of the postsynaptic neuron. This can result in overexcitation or hyperactivity of the target muscle cell. The muscle cell might experience continuous contractions, which could lead to muscle spasms or seizures.
On the other hand, if neurotransmitter reuptake occurred too quickly, it could lead to a deficit of neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft. This would result in decreased stimulation of the postsynaptic neuron and weaker signal transmission. As a consequence, the target muscle cell might not receive sufficient input for proper contraction, leading to muscle weakness or paralysis.
To summarize, clearing neurotransmitters quickly from the synaptic cleft ensures proper regulation of neural signaling and prevents both overexcitation and insufficient stimulation of the target muscle cell.