GABA-mediated synaptic transmission in neuroendocrine cells: a patch-clamp study in a pituitary slice preparation

1992 ◽  
Vol 421 (4) ◽  
pp. 364-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf Schneggenburger ◽  
Arthur Konnerth
Keyword(s):  
Patch Clamp ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Neuroendocrine Cells ◽  
Slice Preparation ◽  
Clamp Study

Synaptic Transmission in the Immune System

e-Neuroforum ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Rettig ◽  
David R. Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Secretory Granules ◽  
Neuroendocrine Cells ◽  
Regulated Exocytosis ◽  
Protein Receptor ◽  
Immunological Synapses ◽  
Immunological Diseases

AbstractThe release of neurotransmitters at synapses belongs to the most important processes in the central nervous system. In the last decades much has been learned about the molecular mechanisms which form the basis for this fundamental process. Highly regulated exocytosis, based on the SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive attachment protein receptor) complex and its regulatory molecules is the signature specialization of the nervous system and is shared by neurons and neuroendocrine cells. Cells of the immune system use a similar mechanism to release cytotoxic materials from secretory granules at contacts with virally or bacterially infected cells or cancer cells, in order to remove these threats. These contact zones have been termed immunological synapses in reference to the highly specific targeted exocytosis of effector molecules. Recent findings indicate that mutations in SNARE or SNARE-interacting proteins are the basis of a number of devastating immunological diseases. While SNARE complexes are ubiquitous and mediate a wide variety of membrane fusion events it is surprising that in many cases the SNARE proteins involved in immunological synapses are the same molecules which mediate regulated exocytosis of transmitters and hormones in neurons and neuroendocrine cells. These similarities raise the possibility that results obtained at immunological synapses may be applicable, in particular in the area of presynaptic function, to neuronal synapses. Since immunological synapses (IS) are assembled and disassembled in about a half an hour, the use of immune cells isolated from human blood allows not only the study of the molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission in human cells, but is particularly suited to the examination of the assembly and disassembly of these “synapses” via live imaging. In this overview we discuss areas of similarity between synapses of the nervous and immune systems and in the process will refer to results of our experiments of the last few years.

Patch clamp study on primary culture of isolated proximal convoluted tubules

1988 ◽  
Vol 413 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Merot ◽  
M. Bidet ◽  
B. Gachot ◽  
S. Le Maout ◽  
M. Tauc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patch Clamp ◽  
Primary Culture ◽  
Clamp Study ◽  
Convoluted Tubules ◽  
Proximal Convoluted Tubules

Chloride currents inChara—A patch-clamp study

1986 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Patch Clamp ◽  
Chloride Currents ◽  
Clamp Study

Patch-clamp study of neurons and glial cells in isolated myenteric ganglia

2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (4) ◽  
pp. G644-G651 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hanani ◽  
M. Francke ◽  
W. Härtig ◽  
J. Grosche ◽  
A. Reichenbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patch Clamp ◽  
Glial Cells ◽  
Muscle Layer ◽  
Membrane Receptors ◽  
Delayed Rectifier ◽  
Longitudinal Muscle Layer ◽  
Inward Currents ◽  
Morphological Identity ◽  
Clamp Study ◽  
Myenteric Ganglia

Most of the physiological information on the enteric nervous system has been obtained from studies on preparations of the myenteric ganglia attached to the longitudinal muscle layer. This preparation has a number of disadvantages, e.g., the inability to make patch-clamp recordings and the occurrence of muscle movements. To overcome these limitations we used isolated myenteric ganglia from the guinea pig small intestine. In this preparation movement was eliminated because muscle was completely absent, gigaseals were obtained, and whole cell recordings were made from neurons and glial cells. The morphological identity of cells was verified by injecting a fluorescent dye by micropipette. Neurons displayed voltage-gated inactivating inward Na+ and Ca2+currents as well as delayed-rectifier K+ currents. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed that most neurons have Na+ channels. Neurons responded to GABA, indicating that membrane receptors were retained. Glial cells displayed hyperpolarization-induced K+ inward currents and depolarization-induced K+ outward currents. Glia showed large “passive” currents that were suppressed by octanol, consistent with coupling by gap junctions among these cells. These results demonstrate the advantages of isolated ganglia for studying myenteric neurons and glial cells.

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