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Functional Evaluation of Biological Neurotoxins in Networked Cultures of Stem Cell-derived Central Nervous System Neurons
Published on: February 5, 2015
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Why are neurotransmitters neurotoxic? An evolutionary perspective
Keith D Harris1, Meital Weiss1, Amotz Zahavi2
1Department of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel.
F1000Research
|January 20, 2015
Summary
Neurotransmitter toxicity in the central nervous system (CNS) may be an evolutionary mechanism. This toxicity could test neuron quality, aiding pathway selection and explaining age-related changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Evolutionary Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Neurotransmitters like glutamate and dopamine are crucial in the central nervous system (CNS).
- Minor fluctuations in their concentrations are linked to neurodegenerative diseases.
- The precise evolutionary role of neurotransmitter function, particularly toxicity, remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose an evolutionary perspective on the functional role of neurotransmitter toxicity in the CNS.
- To hypothesize that neurotransmitter toxicity is a selected trait for assessing neuronal quality and guiding pathway development.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis based on evolutionary principles.
- Hypothesis generation regarding neurotransmitter function and toxicity.
- Literature review on neurotransmitter roles, neurodegeneration, aging, and the blood-brain barrier.
Main Results:
- The study hypothesizes that neurotransmitter toxicity acts as a quality control mechanism for neurons.
- This toxicity facilitates the selection and refinement of neuronal pathways.
- The proposed perspective may explain age-related decreases in neurotransmitter levels and suggest novel roles for the blood-brain barrier.
Conclusions:
- Neurotransmitter toxicity is hypothesized to be an adaptive trait selected for its role in neuronal quality testing.
- This evolutionary viewpoint offers new explanations for age-dependent changes in neurotransmitter concentrations.
- The specific toxicity of neurotransmitters in distinct CNS regions may be optimized for testing local cellular quality.
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