title: Activity-dependent neurotransmitter respecification.
abstract: For many years it has been assumed that the identity of the transmitters expressed by neurons is stable and unchanging. Recent work, however, shows that electrical activity can respecify neurotransmitter expression during development and in the mature nervous system, and an understanding is emerging of the molecular mechanisms underlying activity-dependent transmitter respecification. Changes in postsynaptic neurotransmitter receptor expression accompany and match changes in transmitter specification, thus enabling synaptic transmission. The functional roles of neurotransmitter respecification are beginning to be understood and appear to involve homeostatic synaptic regulation, which in turn influences behaviour. Activation of this novel form of plasticity by sensorimotor stimuli may provide clinical benefits.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA. nspitzer@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Nicholas C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Spitzer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D006706:Homeostasis; D008954:Models, Biological; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter