If the Chemically Gated Sodium Channels in the Postsynaptic Membrane

Question

If the chemically gated sodium channels in the postsynaptic membrane were completely blocked,
A) synaptic transmission would fail.
B) release of neurotransmitter would stop.
C) smaller action potentials would result.
D) the presynaptic membrane would be unable to reach threshold.
E) the presynaptic neuron would release a different neurotransmitter.

Accepted Answer

The chemically gated sodium channels in the postsynaptic membrane are responsible for the influx of sodium ions which depolarizes the membrane and generates an action potential. If these channels were completely blocked, the depolarization would not occur and the action potential would not be generated. As a result, synaptic transmission would fail.