Synaptic Transmission: Intercellular Signaling
Basic Neuropharmacology
J. David Jentsch,
Robert H. Roth,
J. David Jentsch
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
Search for more papers by this authorRobert H. Roth
University of California, Brain Research Institute, Los Angeles, California
Search for more papers by this authorJ. David Jentsch,
Robert H. Roth,
J. David Jentsch
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
Search for more papers by this authorRobert H. Roth
University of California, Brain Research Institute, Los Angeles, California
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 02 March 2007
Abstract
Within the central nervous system, inter-neuronal signaling largely involves the activity-dependent secretion of neural signaling molecules which produce electrophysiological, biochemical or transcriptional changes in target cells. In many, but not all, cases, these chemical messengers are released and have their effects within synapses, which are anatomically specialized appositions between neurons. Synaptic signaling involves the complex biochemical mechanisms involved the synthesis, sequestration, release and inactivation of the chemical signal by the releasing neuron and the response to that signal through its effects on a receptor protein expressed by the target neuron. In this chapter, we identify a set of chemical signaling molecules that have been identified as synaptic messengers, and we describe the mechanisms underlying their genesis, use and disposition. Critical points for modulation of these processes are discussed. In addition, recently discovered molecules that participate in inter-cellular signaling but which defy conventional rules governing synaptic transmission are described.
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