Spillover in the spotlight.
Fast neurotransmission in the brain is typically mediated by local actions of transmitters at ionotropic receptors within synaptic contacts. Recent studies now reveal that, in addition to point-to-point signaling, amino-acid transmitters mediate diffuse signaling at extrasynaptic metabotropic receptors.
Isaacson
J S
JS
Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0608, USA. jisaacson@ucsd.edu
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000502:physiology; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000502:physiology; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology
D018079:Receptors, GABA; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid