Posted by Scott L. Schofield on January 30, 2000, at 12:39:27
In reply to Re: What is an autoreceptor?, posted by Cam W. on January 29, 2000, at 10:08:20
> Autoreceptors are located on the nerve cell body and at the end of the nerve cell axon. They turn off the flow of neurotransmitter out of a cell via a biofeedback mechanism. When a neurotransmitter (NT) is released from a cell, some of that NT binds to the autoreceptor (located on the presynaptic side of the synaptic cleft or gap) and shuts off the flow of the NT out of the nerve cell. By blocking the autoreceptor you are essentially "shutting off" the off button and more NT is released into the synaptic gap, hopefully increasing neurotransmission. Hope that this is clear. - Cam W.
-------------------------------------------------------
Very.
Hi Cam W.
I have more questions that I'm too lazy to research:
1. Do autoreceptors also help control the neurotransmitter factories?
2. Are there post-synaptic autoreceptors that help inhibit the nerve from "over-doing" it?
3. If so, how might buspirone and pindolol be involved in serotergic neurotransmission?
This is pretty cool. Now I don't even have to go to Medline.
- Scott
poster:Scott L. Schofield
thread:19944
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000128/msgs/20095.html