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Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action

Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action

Neurochemical transmission, the conduction of electrical impulses between neurons mediated by neurotransmitters, plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Autonomic drugs exert their effects by modulating neurotransmission within the autonomic nervous system. For instance, drugs such as hemicholinium block the precursor uptake necessary for synthesizing acetylcholine, an essential autonomic neurotransmitter. Following synthesis, neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles. Metyrosine...

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 specific...

Neuronal Communication

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Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...

The Synapse

The Synapse

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.

Classification of Neurotransmitters

Classification of Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters play a crucial role in the communication between neurons in the autonomic nervous system. Neurons in the autonomic nervous system can be cholinergic or adrenergic depending on the neurotransmitters synthesized. Cholinergic neurons use acetylcholine as their primary neurotransmitter. This includes all the preganglionic fibers of the sympathetic and pre- and postganglionic fibers of the parasympathetic nervous systems. In addition, neurons of the somatic nervous system also use...

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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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Vibrodissociation of Neurons from Rodent Brain Slices to Study Synaptic Transmission and Image Presynaptic Terminals

Vibrodissociation of Neurons from Rodent Brain Slices to Study Synaptic Transmission and Image Presynaptic Terminals

Published on: May 25, 2011

Basic concepts of neurotransmission.

Dilip R Patel¹, Cynthia Feucht

¹Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI 49009-1284, USA. patel@kcms.msu.edu

Pediatric Clinics of North America

|February 2, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding synaptic neurotransmission is key for neuropsychiatric disorders and drug discovery. This review covers neuroanatomy, neurotransmission, and neurotransmitter systems for therapeutic targets.

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Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Vibrodissociation of Neurons from Rodent Brain Slices to Study Synaptic Transmission and Image Presynaptic Terminals

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Pharmacology

Background:

Synaptic neurotransmission is crucial for understanding neuropsychiatric disorders.
Modulating neurotransmission is essential for developing therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the fundamental aspects of neuroanatomy, neurotransmission, and major neurotransmitter systems.
To highlight potential drug targets within neurotransmission processes.

Main Methods:

Literature review of neuroanatomy.
Review of neurotransmission mechanisms (synthesis, release, reuptake, destruction).
Overview of major neurotransmitter systems.

Main Results:

Synaptic neurotransmission underlies neuropsychiatric conditions.
Therapeutic drugs can target various stages of neurotransmission.
Key neurotransmitter systems are essential for brain function.

Conclusions:

A foundational understanding of neurotransmission is vital for both clinical practice and pharmaceutical development.
Targeting neurotransmission offers a pathway for treating neuropsychiatric disorders.