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Related Concept Videos

Neuronal Communication01:28

Neuronal Communication

2.7K
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...
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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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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.
132.2K
Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters01:29

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...
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Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

11.0K
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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Co-culture of Glutamatergic Neurons and Pediatric High-Grade Glioma Cells Into Microfluidic Devices to Assess Electrical Interactions
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Synaptic Communication in Brain Cancer.

Michelle Monje1

  • 1Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California. mmonje@stanford.edu.

Cancer Research
|May 9, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The nervous system significantly impacts brain cancer growth and function. Understanding neuron-cancer communication is key to developing new therapies for these lethal brain cancers.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuro-oncology
  • Cancer biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • The central nervous system (CNS) is increasingly recognized for its role in cancer progression.
  • Neuron-cancer cell communication is a critical factor in brain cancer pathophysiology, including gliomas and metastases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the bidirectional communication between neurons and brain cancer cells.
  • To highlight the impact of neuronal activity on glial tumor growth and modulation.
  • To underscore the influence of brain tumors on neuronal function and circuit activity.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current evidence on neuron-cancer interactions in the CNS.
  • Analysis of mechanisms driving glial malignancy growth via neuronal signaling.
  • Examination of how brain cancers alter neuronal activity and circuit integration.

Main Results:

  • Neuronal activity promotes glial malignancy growth through secreted factors and synaptic communication.
  • Brain cancers reciprocally influence neuronal function, increasing activity and modulating neural circuits.
  • Established structural and electrical integration of cancer cells within neural networks.

Conclusions:

  • Neuron-cancer interactions are fundamental to brain cancer progression.
  • Further understanding of these interactions is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Targeting neuron-cancer communication may offer new avenues for treating lethal brain cancers.