title: Methods for studying neurotransmitter transduction mechanisms.
abstract: This review describes the methodologies used to study the transduction mechanisms that are activated in excitable cells by G-protein-coupled agonists. In view of the complexity of second-messenger systems, it is no longer relevant to ask, "What is the transduction mechanism involved in the action of a given neuromodulator?" because, in many cases, a variety of transduction mechanisms and physiological responses are invoked following receptor activation. This means that a single aspect of the physiological response must be selected for study in order to address the question of transduction mechanism. This review is therefore concerned with a description the use of patch- and voltage-clamp procedures to study transduction mechanism because they are designed to isolate one aspect of the physiological response: the change in activity of a single type of membrane ion channel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D015290:Second Messenger Systems; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins