Plasticity of spontaneous synaptic transmission in the hypothalamus

突触传递是神经系统功能中最基本的过程之一，涉及突触前神经元释放神经递质，随后递质与受体结合以及突触后神经元的信号转导。在一本教科书中对突触传递的描述中，动作电位触发了突触前神经元的神经递质释放(诱发释放)。然而，神经递质也在几乎每个突触释放，而没有动作电位(自发释放)。最近的研究结果表明，自发的递质释放对突触后神经元的电活动、蛋白质合成、细胞信号和形态都有显著的影响。因此，我们可以得出结论，自发释放在突触上传达了一个重要的生理信息，这一作用可能不同于精确定时的诱发释放。尽管它很重要，但调节自发释放的机制仍然知之甚少。

Synaptic transmission is one of the most fundamental processes of the nervous system function involving the release of neurotransmitters from the presynaptic neuron, the subsequent binding of the transmitter to receptors and signal transduction at the postsynaptic neuron. In a textbook description of synaptic transmission, an action potential triggers neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic neuron (evoked release). However, neurotransmitters are also released without action potentials at virtually every synapse (spontaneous release). Recent research findings suggest that spontaneous transmitter release has significant effects on the postsynaptic neuron, including its electrical activity, protein synthesis, cell signaling and morphology. Therefore, we can conclude that spontaneous release conveys a significant physiological message at synapses, a role that could be distinct from that of precisely-timed evoked release. Despite its importance, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of spontaneous release remain poorly understood.