Evidence for ectopic neurotransmission at a neuronal synapse
Evidence for ectopic neurotransmission at a neuronal synapse
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DOI：
10.1126/science.1108239
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发表时间：
2005-07-15
期刊：
影响因子：
56.9
通讯作者：
Sejnowski, TJ
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Coggan, JS;Bartol, TM;Sejnowski, TJ
众所周知，神经递质的释放发生在特定的突触区域，包括突触前活动区和突触后密度。然而，在鸡睫状神经节的胆碱能突触，膜的形成和生理测量表明，释放远离突触后密度可以激活主要是突触外α 7烟碱受体亚型。我们探索了这种异位神经传递与一种新的模型突触，结合蒙特卡罗模拟与高分辨率的串行电子显微镜断层扫描。模拟的突触活动是一致的微型兴奋性突触后电流的实验记录，只有当异位传输包括在模型中，拓宽了神经元通信机制的可能性。
Neurotransmitter release is well known to occur at specialized synaptic regions that include presynaptic active zones and postsynaptic densities. At cholinergic synapses in the chick ciliary ganglion, however, membrane formations and physiological measurements suggest that release distant from postsynaptic densities can activate the predominantly extrasynaptic alpha 7 nicotinic receptor subtype. We explored such ectopic neurotransmission with a novel model synapse that combines Monte Carlo simulations with high-resolution serial electron microscopic tomography. Simulated synaptic activity is consistent with experimental recordings of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents only when ectopic transmission is included in the model, broadening the possibilities for mechanisms of neuronal communication.