The coupling of neurotransmitter receptors to ion channels in the brain.
Recent studies on the action of neurotransmitters on hippocampal pyramidal cells indicate that different neurotransmitter receptors that use either the same or different coupling mechanisms converge onto the same ion channel. Conversely, virtually all of the neurotransmitters act on at least two distinct receptor subtypes coupled to different ion channels on the same cell. The existence of both convergence and divergence in the action of neurotransmitters results in a remarkable diversity in neuronal signaling.
Nicoll
R A
RA
Department of Pharmacology School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
D007473:Ion Channels; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D002118:Calcium