Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Diffuse transmission by acetylcholine in the CNS

L Descarries1, V Gisiger, M Steriade

  • 1Département de physiologie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada. descarrl@alize.ere.umontreal.ca

Progress in Neurobiology
|January 9, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Diffuse transmission of acetylcholine (ACh) may be more prevalent than synaptic transmission in the central nervous system (CNS). An ambient level of ACh in the extracellular space could explain widespread CNS effects and cholinergic deficits.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Enhanced glutamatergic phenotype of mesencephalic dopamine neurons after neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine lesion.

Neuroscience·2008
Same author

Regionally selective changes in neurotransmitter receptors in the brain of the 5-HT1B knockout mouse.

Journal of chemical neuroanatomy·2008
Same author

Unchanged density of 5-HT(1A) autoreceptors on the plasma membrane of nucleus raphe dorsalis neurons in rats chronically treated with fluoxetine.

Neuroscience·2008
Same author

Callosal responses of fast-rhythmic-bursting neurons during slow oscillation in cats.

Neuroscience·2007
Same author

Catecholaminergic activation of G-protein coupling in rat spinal cord: further evidence for the existence of dopamine and noradrenaline receptors in spinal grey and white matter.

Brain research·2006
Same author

Grouping of brain rhythms in corticothalamic systems.

Neuroscience·2005

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Neurochemistry

Background:

  • Immunoelectron microscopy reveals sparse synaptic differentiation on acetylcholine (ACh) axon terminals in rat brain regions.
  • This suggests that diffuse transmission, rather than solely synaptic transmission, is a primary mode of ACh signaling in the CNS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of diffuse ACh transmission in the CNS.
  • To explore the concept of an ambient level of ACh in the extracellular space.
  • To examine the role of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in regulating extracellular ACh levels.

Main Methods:

  • Immunoelectron microscopy
  • Cytological analysis
  • Review of immunocytochemical data on ACh receptor distribution

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of experimental data on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) molecular forms

    • Main Results:

    • ACh axon terminals show low synaptic membrane differentiation, supporting diffuse transmission.
    • Cytological and immunocytochemical data align with the diffuse transmission hypothesis.
    • The G4 form of AChE likely maintains physiological extracellular ACh levels, not complete clearance.

    Conclusions:

    • Diffuse ACh transmission and an ambient extracellular ACh level are proposed for the CNS.
    • This paradigm may explain long-lasting CNS effects of ACh and clinical aspects of cholinergic deficits and therapies.