Fast synaptic transmission in the goldfish CNS mediated by multiple nicotinic receptors.
Usually nicotinic receptors in the central nervous system only influence the strength of a signal between neurons. At a few critical connections, for instance some of those involved in the flight response, nicotinic receptors not only modulate the signal, they actually determine whether a signal is conveyed or not. We show at one of the few such connections accessible for study, up to three different nicotinic receptor subtypes mediate the signal. The subtypes appear to be clustered in separate locations. Depending on the number and combination of the subtypes present the signal can range from short to long duration and from low to high amplitude. This provides a critical connection with a built-in plasticity and may enable it to adapt to a changing environment.
Dominick P Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. charlotte.grove@nyumc.org
Charlotte L
CL
Grove
Theresa M
TM
Szabo
J Michael
JM
McIntosh
Samantha C
SC
Do
Robert F
RF
Waldeck
Donald S
DS
Faber
D000157:Aconitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020916:Conotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004079:Dihydro-beta-Erythroidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D006054:Goldfish / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012249:Rhombencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
D002038:Bungarotoxins; C579167:Chrna7 protein, human; D020916:Conotoxins; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; C419362:nicotinic receptor alpha3beta2; C403530:nicotinic receptor alpha3beta4; C054634:methyllycaconitine; D004079:Dihydro-beta-Erythroidine; D000157:Aconitine