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Fast synaptic transmission in the goldfish CNS mediated by multiple nicotinic receptors
Author(s) -
Grove Charlotte L.,
Szabo Theresa M.,
McIntosh J. Michael,
Do Samantha C.,
Waldeck Robert F.,
Faber Donald S.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2010.197608
Subject(s) - neuroscience , nicotinic agonist , neurotransmission , receptor , transmission (telecommunications) , biology , chemistry , computer science , telecommunications , biochemistry
Non‐technical summary Usually nicotinic receptors in the central nervous system only influence the strength of a signal between neurons. At a few critical connections, for instance some of those involved in the flight response, nicotinic receptors not only modulate the signal, they actually determine whether a signal is conveyed or not. We show at one of the few such connections accessible for study, up to three different nicotinic receptor subtypes mediate the signal. The subtypes appear to be clustered in separate locations. Depending on the number and combination of the subtypes present the signal can range from short to long duration and from low to high amplitude. This provides a critical connection with a built‐in plasticity and may enable it to adapt to a changing environment.