On the occurrence and enigmatic functions of mixed (chemical plus electrical) synapses in the mammalian CNS

NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS

卷:695

Review

Nagy, James I.¹  Pereda, Alberto E.²  Rash, John E.³ 

[1] Univ Manitoba, Fac Med, Dept Physiol & Pathophysiol, 745 Bannatyne Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada

[2] Albert Einstein Coll Med, Dominick P Putpura Dept Neurosci, Bronx, NY 10461 USA

[3] Colorado State Univ, Dept Biomed Sci, Ft Collins, CO 80523 USA

关键词: Neuronal gap junctions;    Connexins;    Nerve terminals;    Dye coupling;    Electrical coupling;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.neulet.2017.09.021

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Electrical synapses with diverse configurations and functions occur at a variety of interneuronal appositions, thereby significantly expanding the physiological complexity of neuronal circuitry over that provided solely by chemical synapses. Gap junctions between apposed dendritic and somatic plasma membranes form purely electrical synapses that allow for electrical communication between coupled neurons. In addition, gap junctions at axon terminals synapsing on dendrites and somata allow for mixed (dual chemical + electrical) synaptic transmission. Dual transmission was first documented in the autonomic nervous system of birds, followed by its detection in the central nervous systems of fish, amphibia, and reptiles. Subsequently, mixed synapses have been detected in several locations in the mammalian CNS, where their properties and functional roles remain undetermined. Here, we review available evidence for the presence, complex structural composition, and emerging functional properties of mixed synapses in the mammalian CNS.

【 授权许可】

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