Nerve cells communicate with each other through two mechanisms, referred to as fast and slow synaptic transmission. Fast-acting neurotransmitters, e.g., glutamate (excitatory) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (inhibitory), achieve effects on their target cells within one millisecond by virtue of opening ligand-operated ion channels. In contrast, all of the effects of the biogenic amine and pe...

major proportion of intracellular calcium (ca 2+ ) is achieved through opening of calcium channels present in the plasma membrane which play an important role in regulating neuromuscular coordination and release of neurotransmitters from nerve terminals. blockade of these calcium channels adversely affect contractile process and release of neurotransmitters in majority of the neuromuscular prep...

The quantal hypothesis for the release of neurotransmitters at the chemical synapse has gained wide acceptance since it was first worked out at the motor endplate in frog skeletal muscle in the 1950's. Considering the morphological identification of synaptic vesicles (SVs) at the nerve terminals that appeared to be homogeneous in size, the hypothesis proposed that signal transduction at synapse...

The gastrointestinal motility is regulated by extrinsic and intrinsic neural regulation. Intrinsic neural pathways are controlled by sensory input, inter-neuronal relay and motor output. Enteric motor neurons release many transmitters which affect post-junctional responses. Post-junctional responses can be excitatory and inhibitory depending on neurotransmitters. Excitatory neurotransmitters in...

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of membrane and major drug targets. They play a fundamental role in endocrine system, where they mediate effects several hormones neurotransmitters. As result, alterations GPCR signalling cause disorders such as congenital hypothyroidism or Cushing’s syndrome. My group develops innovative optical methods fluorescence resonance energy tr...

The beneficial effects of exercise on brain function have been demonstrated in animal models and in a growing number of clinical studies on humans. There are multiple mechanisms that account for the brain-enhancing effects of exercise, including neuroinflammation, vascularization, antioxidation, energy adaptation, and regulations on neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitters. Dopamine (DA), nor...

The present study analyzed expressional changes of excitatory neurotransmitters and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the rat corpus striatum after single-use and combined-use diazepam and Chinese herb moschus. The influence of moschus on the central nervous system was analyzed, in particular whether moschus increased penetration of other drugs into the brain. Reverse-phase high-performance liqui...

Initially, the idea that neurotransmitters could serve as immunomodulators emerged with the discovery that their release and diffusion from nervous tissue could lead to signaling through lymphocyte cell-surface receptors and the modulation of immune function. It is now evident that neurotransmitters can also be released from leukocytes and act as autocrine or paracrine modulators. Here, we revi...

Chemical signals, or neurotransmitters, represent the fundamental mode for intercellular communication in the nervous system. The classical model for neurotransmitter action involves the uptake and storage of these small molecules into synaptic vesicles, release of vesicular contents into the synaptic cleft in response to depolarization of the presynaptic terminal by an action potential, bindin...

The pancreatic islets are innervated by sympathetic, parasympathetic and sensory nerves and within the terminals of these nerves several different neurotransmitters are stored, both the classical neurotransmitters, acetylcholine and noradrenaline, and several neuropeptides. The neurotransmitters affect insulin secretion both in a stimulatory and in an inhibitory direction depending on the nervo...