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Functional Evaluation of Biological Neurotoxins in Networked Cultures of Stem Cell-derived Central Nervous System Neurons
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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
PubMed

Insights

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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