The Dynamics of Excitatory Neurotransmission

兴奋性神经传递的动力学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-03940
• 负责人: Parsons, Matthew
• 金额: $ 2.62万
• 依托单位: Memorial University of Newfoundland
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=629245
• 关键词: Dynamics; Excitatory; Neurotransmission

The underlying biology that makes us who we are — from our sensory experiences to our overt behaviours and all of the complex cognitive processing that occurs in between — critically relies on the neurotransmitter glutamate. Glutamate is the brain’s most abundant neurotransmitter and accounts for the large majority of rapid information processing within the brain. For brain cells to communicate with each other, glutamate is typically first released from one neuron into the extracellular space where it can act on receptors that are located on a neighbouring neuron. In order to achieve rapid and efficient communication with a high signal-to-noise ratio, glutamate must be removed from the extracellular space within milliseconds following its initial release. This is accomplished through the glutamate transporter system, which is responsible for the uptake of glutamate from the extracellular space back into neurons and other supporting cells. The importance of understanding the glutamate transporter system is highlighted by the well-accepted view that rapid glutamate uptake promotes effective communication and cellular growth whereas excessive or prolonged levels of extracellular glutamate is detrimental to cellular function and information processing in the brain. If the glutamate transporter system breaks down, so do our memories, our experiences and mental acuity, as well as virtually everything else that makes us who we are.

从我们的感官体验到我们的外显行为，以及其间发生的所有复杂的认知过程，我们之所以是我们，其背后的生物学机制严重依赖于神经递质谷氨酸。谷氨酸是大脑中最丰富的神经递质，占大脑内快速信息处理的绝大部分。为了使脑细胞相互交流，谷氨酸通常首先从一个神经元释放到细胞外空间，在那里它可以作用于位于相邻神经元上的受体。为了实现具有高信噪比的快速有效的通信，谷氨酸必须在其初始释放后的毫秒内从细胞外空间中去除。这是通过谷氨酸转运蛋白系统完成的，该系统负责将谷氨酸从细胞外空间摄取回神经元和其他支持细胞。理解谷氨酸转运体系统的重要性被广泛接受的观点所强调，即快速的谷氨酸摄取促进有效的通信和细胞生长，而过量或长期的细胞外谷氨酸水平对大脑中的细胞功能和信息处理有害。如果谷氨酸转运体系统崩溃，我们的记忆，我们的经验和精神敏锐度，以及几乎所有其他使我们成为我们的东西。