Welcome to the Section on Functional Neuroanatomy
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Regulation, IRP
National Institute of Mental Health
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
Miles Herkenham, Ph.D., Chief
Parasynaptic communication in the nervous system
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From paracrine to hormonal modes, parasynaptic actions of neuroactive molecules mediating intercellular information transfer are numerous and diverse. Anatomical evidence for parasynaptic communication includes nonsynaptic receptors, diffusion of neuroactive molecules from release sites, and nonsynaptic and even non-vesicular release. Functional actions in this mode may be inferred on the basis of mechanisms of drug effects, involvement of glia in interneuronal communication, cellular responses in culture, and hormone-like actions of neurotransmitters. It is concluded that parasynaptic mechanisms comprise the foundation for a large body of current neuroscience research.
References: Herkenham M: Mismatches between neurotransmitter and receptor localizations in brain: observations and implications. Neuroscience, 1987; 23: 1-38. |
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Herkenham M: Mismatches between neurotransmitter and receptor localizations: implications for endocrine functions in brain; in: Fuxe K, Agnati LF (eds): Volume Transmission in the Brain: Novel Mechanisms for Neural Transmission. New York, Raven Press, 1991, pp. 63-87. Herkenham M: Mismatches between receptor and transmitter localizations in the opiate system: implications for nonsynaptic opioid actions; in: Stumpf WE, Solomon HF (eds): Autoradiography and Correlative Imaging. New York, Raven Press, 1995, pp. 253-263. Proescholdt, M. G., Hutto, B., Brady, L. S., and Herkenham, M. Studies of cerebrospinal fluid flow and penetration into brain following lateral ventricle and cisterna magna injections of the tracer [14C]inulin in rat. Neuroscience, 2000, 95: 577-592. Herkenham, M. Extrasynaptic receptors and parasynaptic communication in the brain. Brain Res. Bull., 1999, 50: 351-352. | |
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