The Physiology Of Synapses

The Physiology of Synapses covers the considerable advances in understanding the complex physiology of synapses. This book is divided into 16 chapters that emphasize the mechanism of synaptic transmission. The first chapters describe the structural and physiological features of chemically transmitting synapses. The subsequent chapters deal with the excitatory postsynaptic responses to presynaptic impulse and the release of transmitter by presynaptic impulses. These topics are followed by discussions of the impulse generation by the excitatory postsynaptic potential; the postsynaptic electrical events produced by chemically transmitting inhibitory synapses; the ionic mechanism generating the inhibitory postsynaptic potential. The last chapters consider the mechanism of inhibitory transmitter substances, pathways responsible for postsynaptic inhibitory action, and the trophic and plastic properties of synapses. This book will prove useful to physiologists, neurologists, and researchers.

The Synapse summarizes recent advances in cellular and molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission and provides new insights into neuronal plasticity and the cellular basis of neurological diseases. Part 1 provides an in-depth look at structural differences and distribution of various pre- and post-synaptic proteins found at glutamatergic synapses. Part 2 is dedicated to dendritic spines and their associated perisynaptic glia, which together constitute the tripartite synapse. The spines are portrayed as major sites for calcium sequestration and local protein synthesis. Part 3 highlights the important regional and cellular differences between glutamatergic transmission and that of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and acetylcholine that are commonly found in axon terminals without synaptic membrane specializations. Part 4 provides an overview of the synapse from the time of formation to degeneration under the powerful influence of aging or hormonal decline that leads to severe deficits in cognitive function. Each chapter is illustrated with drawings and images derived from calcium imaging, electron microscopic immunolabeling, or electrophysiology. This book is a valuable reference for neuroscientists and clinical neurologists in both research and clinical settings. A comprehensive reference focused on the structure and function of the synapse Covers the links between the synapse and neural plasticity and the cellular basis of neurologic disease Detailed coverage of dendritic spines and associated perisynaptic glia—the tripartite synapse Includes in-depth coverage of synapse degeneration due to aging or hormonal decline related to severe cognitive impairment

Easily understood, up-to-date and clinically relevant, this book provides junior anaesthetists with an essential physiology resource.

Thanks to tremendous technical advances in molecular biology and cellular imaging after those in electrophysiology, there is now a deep understanding of the physiology of nerve cells and their synaptic interconnections. The complexity of the brain emerges from the communication and interaction between billions of these elements. This book explores systematically and didactically the details of neuronal physiology, covering membrane biophysics, receptor physiology, sensory transduction and synaptic transmission with its selective pharmacology. Readers of the book will be fully equipped to understand the functions and possibilities of the key units of the brain’s parallel computations.

Synaptic Transmission is a comprehensive guide to the topic of neurotransmission that provides an in-depth discussion on many aspects of synapse structure and function—a fundamental part of the neuroscience discipline. Chapters include boxes that describe renowned/award-winning researchers and their contributions to the field of synaptic transmission, diseases relevant to the material presented, details of experimental approaches used to study synaptic transmission, and interesting asides that expand on topics covered. This book will inspire students to appreciate how the basic cellular and molecular biology of the synapse can lead to a better understanding of nervous system function and neurological disorders. Provides a comprehensive reference on synaptic structure, physiology, function and neurotransmission Discusses many landmark experiments in the field of synaptic transmission to emphasize core principles Includes references to primary scientific literature, relevant review articles and books, many of which could be assigned as discussion material for courses focused on this topic

This new Springer volume, which comes complete with a free DVD, is a comprehensive and detailed overview of the synapse with emphasis on the glutamatergic synapse. Most chapters relate the synapse’s functional aspects to its molecular mechanisms. This approach shows which mechanisms are characterized on both the functional and structural level and can thus be considered firmly established. It’s an important text for neuroscientists and disease-oriented clinicians in neurology.