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Related Concept Videos

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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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.
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Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

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Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
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Synaptic Signaling01:12

Synaptic Signaling

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Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
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Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters01:29

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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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The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

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Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
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Microtransplantation of Synaptic Membranes to Reactivate Human Synaptic Receptors for Functional Studies
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Synaptopathy: dysfunction of synaptic function?

Nils Brose1, Vincent O'Connor, Paul Skehel

  • 1Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Strasse 3, 37077 Göttingen Germany. brose@em.mpg.de

Biochemical Society Transactions
|March 20, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Synaptopathy, or synaptic dysfunction, is increasingly linked to neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. While significant, its role as the sole cause requires further investigation across various brain disorders.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurobiology
  • Synaptic Plasticity
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases

Background:

  • Synaptopathy is a proposed unifying concept for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, implicating synaptic structure and function disruptions.
  • A focused meeting explored how fundamental synaptic biology informs our understanding of disease dysfunction.
  • Approaches ranged from molecular to whole-animal studies, investigating synaptic roles in brain health and disease.

Discussion:

  • The meeting covered diverse diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, prions, schizophrenia, and autism.
  • Participants evaluated whether synaptopathy offers a complete explanation for these complex brain diseases.
  • The significance of synaptic dysfunction in disease was reinforced, highlighting its complexity.

Key Insights:

  • Synaptic dysfunction is a critical component in various neurological and psychiatric conditions.
  • Multidisciplinary research is essential for understanding the intricate mechanisms of brain diseases.
  • The concept of synaptopathy is valuable but may not be the sole etiological factor.

Outlook:

  • Further research is needed to determine the precise causal role and balance of synaptopathy in major brain diseases.
  • Continued investigation into synaptic biology will refine our understanding of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
  • Integrating diverse experimental approaches will be key to unraveling the complexities of brain disease etiology.