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Related Concept Videos

Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)01:32

Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)

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Postsynaptic potential (PSP) refers to a change in the electrical potential of a neuron when neurotransmitters released by presynaptic neurons bind to postsynaptic receptors. This potential can either be excitatory, leading to depolarization and ultimately action potential generation, or inhibitory, leading to hyperpolarization and suppression of the postsynaptic neuron.
There are two types of receptors: ionotropic and metabotropic.
The ionotropic receptor is the membrane protein that has an...
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Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
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Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters01:29

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

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When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of...
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Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
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Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

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Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
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Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic01:15

Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic

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Nicotinic receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that are activated by acetylcholine and nicotine. Upon activation, they cause a rapid increase in the permeability of cells to K+, Na+, and Ca2+, followed by depolarization and excitation. They are in the autonomic ganglia, skeletal neuromuscular junction, CNS, and adrenal medulla.
There are two types of nicotinic receptors: neuromuscular (NM/NM/N1) and neuronal (NN/NN/N2). The two families differ based on their location and selectivity to...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Microtransplantation of Synaptic Membranes to Reactivate Human Synaptic Receptors for Functional Studies
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Microtransplantation of Synaptic Membranes to Reactivate Human Synaptic Receptors for Functional Studies

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Presynaptic lonotropic receptors.

M M Dorostkar1, S Boehm

  • 1Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Graz, Universitäts-platz 4, Graz, Austria.

Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
|December 8, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Presynaptic ionotropic receptors rapidly control neurotransmitter release. These fast-acting receptors, including ATP P2X and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, modulate synaptic transmission through diverse signaling pathways.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cellular Biology
  • Neuropharmacology

Background:

  • Neurotransmitter release via vesicle exocytosis is modulated by synaptic activity and molecules.
  • Ionotropic receptors mediate rapid postsynaptic responses, unlike metabotropic receptors.
  • Presynaptic ionotropic receptors are located on nerve terminals to influence transmitter release.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of presynaptic ionotropic receptors.
  • To summarize mechanisms regulating transmitter release.
  • To delineate signaling pathways activated by presynaptic ionotropic receptors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of presynaptic ionotropic receptor function.
  • Summary of vesicle exocytosis processes.
  • Analysis of signaling mechanisms mediating receptor activation effects.

Main Results:

  • Several ionotropic receptor families (e.g., ATP P2X, GABA(A), ionotropic glutamate) control transmitter release.
  • Diverse structural and functional features of these receptors lead to varied regulatory mechanisms.
  • Specific signaling pathways link presynaptic ionotropic receptor activation to transmitter release modulation.

Conclusions:

  • Presynaptic ionotropic receptors play a significant role in regulating synaptic transmission.
  • Understanding these receptors is crucial for comprehending neural circuit function.
  • Examples highlight the physiological and pharmacological importance of presynaptic ionotropic receptors.