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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
11:03
Conditional Genetic Transsynaptic Tracing in the Embryonic Mouse Brain
Published on: December 22, 2014
On cotransmission & neurotransmitter phenotype plasticity
Louis-Eric Trudeau1, Rafael Gutiérrez
1Department of Pharmacology, CNS Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montreal, C P 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. louis-eric.trudeau@umontreal.ca
Molecular Interventions
|July 5, 2007
Summary
Most neurons utilize cotransmission, releasing multiple neurotransmitters. This review explores cotransmission of classical neurotransmitters and highlights neuronal plasticity in neurotransmitter expression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Most neurons release more than one chemical, making cotransmission common.
- Cotransmission involves classical neurotransmitters and/or peptides.
- Peptide cotransmitter expression is regulated by physiological, chemical, and pathological signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent examples of cotransmission involving multiple classical neurotransmitters.
- To discuss new findings on the plasticity of neuronal neurotransmitter phenotypes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on neuronal cotransmission.
- Analysis of recent studies on neurotransmitter synthesis and transport in neurons.
Main Results:
- Cotransmission of multiple classical neurotransmitters is a prevalent phenomenon.
- Neuronal neurotransmitter phenotypes exhibit significant plasticity during development, adulthood, and in disease states.
- Changes in neurotransmitter synthesis enzymes and vesicular transporters underlie this plasticity.
Conclusions:
- Cotransmission of classical neurotransmitters is widespread and regulated.
- Neuronal identity is not fixed and can change, particularly in response to developmental, adult, or disease-related signals.
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