For an introduction to concepts and terminology used in this article, see Chemical synapse.
Postsynaptic density
Voltage- gated Ca++ channel
Synaptic vesicle
Neurotransmitter transporter
Receptor
Neurotransmitter
Axon terminal
Synaptic cleft
Dendrite
Structure of a typical chemical synapse
A neurotransmitter is a signaling molecule secreted by a neuron to affect another cell across a synapse. The cell receiving the signal, or target cell, may be another neuron, but could also be a gland or muscle cell.[1]
Neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles into the synaptic cleft where they are able to interact with neurotransmitter receptors on the target cell. The neurotransmitter's effect on the target cell is determined by the receptor it binds to. Many neurotransmitters are synthesized from simple and plentiful precursors such as amino acids, which are readily available and often require a small number of biosynthetic steps for conversion.
Neurotransmitters are essential to the function of complex neural systems. The exact number of unique neurotransmitters in humans is unknown, but more than 100 have been identified.[2] Common neurotransmitters include glutamate, GABA, acetylcholine, glycine and norepinephrine.
^Smelser, Neil J.; Baltes, Paul B. (2001). International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences (1st ed.). Amsterdam New York: Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-08-043076-8.
^Cuevas J (1 January 2019). "Neurotransmitters and Their Life Cycle". Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences. Elsevier. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-801238-3.11318-2. ISBN 978-0-12-801238-3.
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In a neuron, synaptic vesicles (or neurotransmitter vesicles) store various neurotransmitters that are released at the synapse. The release is regulated...
neuron releases neurotransmitter molecules into a small space (the synaptic cleft) that is adjacent to another neuron. The neurotransmitters are contained...
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excitatory neurotransmitter, in contrast to GABA, which acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Additionally, dopaminergic is a neurotransmitter that exerts...
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transport and bulk transport in which a cell transports molecules (e.g., neurotransmitters and proteins) out of the cell (exo- + cytosis). As an active transport...
known as neurotransmitters, regulate a significant fraction of vital body functions. It is possible to anatomically locate neurotransmitters by labeling...
Phenethylamine Amphetamine Methamphetamine A neurotransmitter analog is a structural analogue of a neurotransmitter, typically a drug. Some examples include:...
let through") is the process by which signaling molecules called neurotransmitters are released by the axon terminal of a neuron (the presynaptic neuron)...
(A), the neurotransmitter is released and diffuses across the synaptic cleft. If the postsynaptic cell (B) is also a neuron, neurotransmitter receptors...
is an example of an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Monoamine neurotransmitters: Dopamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter. It plays a key role in the functioning...
Neurotransmitters are released into a synapse in packaged vesicles called quanta. One quantum generates a miniature end plate potential (MEPP) which is...
a neurotransmitter from the synapse into the pre-synaptic neuron. This leads to an increase in extracellular concentrations of the neurotransmitter and...
An amino acid neurotransmitter is an amino acid which is able to transmit a nerve message across a synapse. Neurotransmitters (chemicals) are packaged...
specialized connections that commonly use minute amounts of chemical neurotransmitters to pass the electric signal from the presynaptic neuron to the target...
Reuptake is the reabsorption of a neurotransmitter by a neurotransmitter transporter located along the plasma membrane of an axon terminal (i.e., the pre-synaptic...
function of most neurotransmitter transporters is to facilitate neurotransmitter reuptake (i.e., the reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the cell which...
chromaffin cells and in a small number of neurons that use adrenaline as a neurotransmitter. Following adrenalectomy, adrenaline disappears below the detection...
neurotransmission. In contrast to conventional (anterograde) neurotransmitters, retrograde neurotransmitters are synthesized in the postsynaptic neuron, and bind...
the brain and body of many types of animals (including humans) as a neurotransmitter. Its name is derived from its chemical structure: it is an ester of...
release of neurotransmitters from the presynaptic axon terminal into the synaptic cleft, as in a chemical synapse. The excitatory neurotransmitters, the most...
neighboring cells through electrical synapses or cause chemicals called neurotransmitters to be released at chemical synapses. A cell that receives a synaptic...
A neurotransmitter sodium symporter (NSS) (TC# 2.A.22) is type of neurotransmitter transporter that catalyzes the uptake of a variety of neurotransmitters...
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