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Related Concept Videos

The Synapse02:47

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.
Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

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...
Synaptic Signaling01:12

Synaptic Signaling

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.
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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...
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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...
Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action01:26

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

Evaluation of Synaptic Multiplicity Using Whole-cell Patch-clamp Electrophysiology
10:52

Evaluation of Synaptic Multiplicity Using Whole-cell Patch-clamp Electrophysiology

Published on: April 23, 2019

TNFα in synaptic function: switching gears.

Mirko Santello1, Andrea Volterra

  • 1Department of Cell Biology and Morphology, University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 9, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Trends in Neurosciences
|July 4, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), usually low in healthy brains, regulates synaptic function. However, elevated TNFα in disease states can disrupt synaptic plasticity and contribute to cognitive deficits.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Proinflammatory cytokines, like tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), are elevated in pathological brain states.
  • Lower levels of TNFα are present in healthy brains and exert regulatory functions.
  • Emerging evidence points to TNFα's role in synaptic transmission and plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence supporting TNFα's role in synaptic regulation.
  • To discuss the cellular mechanisms underlying TNFα's control of synaptic function.
  • To explore how increased TNFα levels contribute to cognitive alterations in brain pathologies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on TNFα and synaptic function.
  • Analysis of cellular mechanisms, including AMPA receptor trafficking and astrocyte glutamate release.
  • Discussion of findings in the context of nervous system infection, injury, and disease.

Main Results:

  • TNFα influences synaptic transmission and plasticity through cellular mechanisms.
  • Key mechanisms involve the regulation of AMPA receptor trafficking.
  • TNFα also controls glutamate release from astrocytes.

Conclusions:

  • Physiological levels of TNFα are crucial for normal brain function.
  • Elevated TNFα levels, due to disease or injury, can switch its function to deleterious.
  • This functional shift in TNFα may underlie cognitive impairments observed in various brain pathologies.