Neuroexcitation

Neuroexcitation

Neuroexcitation involves electrical or chemical signals (neurotransmitters) being sent from the presynaptic neuron, across the synapse (the critical interneuronal junction that mediates neural excitation and modulates signal transmission), to the postsynaptic neuron. Not surprisingly, the majority of neuropharmacological agents on the market today also act at the chemical synapse. Synaptic dynamics, receptor function, and neurotransmitter transport regulate learning, memory, addictions, and many neurological diseases and disorders.

EMD Millipore’s antibodies from the expertise of Chemicon have facilitated studies of the relationship between neurotransmitter transport, membrane depolarization, and neuroexcitability.

Featured Neuroexcitation Mechanisms

Neurotransmitters Browse Related Antibodies Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry signals from the presynaptic neuron, across the chemical synapse, to the postsynaptic neuron.
Reuptake and Vesicle Transporters Browse Related Antibodies The regulation of synaptic transmission depends upon manipulating the concentration and longevity of neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft.
Postsynaptic Receptors Browse Related Antibodies The postsynaptic effect of neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic terminal depends on a specific protein receptor complex.
Broadly Distributed Receptors and Transporters Browse Related Antibodies Classical endocrine transmission and highly specialized neuronal synapses rely on the same basic components, including specific ligand release, receptor binding and ligand transporters.

Neural Cell Signaling

Neurons, like all cells, are dynamic entities, sensing and responding to their immediate environment through a battery of receptors. The staggering diversity in neuronal receptors and channels reflects an underlying complexity in intracellular signaling that drives neuronal development, excitability, and plasticity. From key phosphorylation and histone modification events in most neuronal processes, to CaM kinase regulation of synaptic plasticity and memory, to activation of AMPK pathways in hypothalamic energy regulation, signal transduction pathways continue to be important targets in basic neuroscience and drug research.

Ion Channels and Neuroexcitation

Membrane depolarization is a special cellular characteristic taken to the extreme in neuronal tissue. The study of channel structure and function is still a demanding and complicated field despite the decided progress made following the Hodgkin/ Huxley years.

Various channels control ionic membrane permeability within biological systems. For example, voltage-gated channels are often specific to neuronal structures and can be used as identifying markers. EMD Millipore offers numerous antibodies to channels of many types. Listed below is a subset of ion channel types typically used in neuronal imaging and ion channel research.

Ion Channel Types in Neuroexcitation

Aquaporins Potassium Channels
Calcium Channels Purinergic Receptors
Chloride Channels Ryanodine Receptors
Cyclic Nucleotide-gated Cation Channels Sodium Channels
Epithelial Sodium Channels (ENaC) Transient Receptor Potential Channels
IP3 Receptors