Na+ signals at central synapses

A basic characteristic of animal cells is the maintenance of a steep inwardly directed electrochemical gradient for sodium ions. In vertebrate neurons, this Na+ gradient energizes intracellular ion regulation and enables influx of Na+ during action potentials and excitatory postsynaptic currents. Se...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Neuroscientist (Baltimore, Md.) Vol. 8; no. 6; p. 532
Main Author Rose, C R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.12.2002
Subjects
Action Potentials - physiology
Animals
Central Nervous System - metabolism
Neuronal Plasticity
Neurons - physiology
Sodium - metabolism
Synapses - metabolism
Synaptic Transmission - physiology
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Summary:A basic characteristic of animal cells is the maintenance of a steep inwardly directed electrochemical gradient for sodium ions. In vertebrate neurons, this Na+ gradient energizes intracellular ion regulation and enables influx of Na+ during action potentials and excitatory postsynaptic currents. Several studies suggested that Na+ ions could also play a role in activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. This review focuses on recent studies that demonstrated the presence of substantial intracellular Na+ transients during action potential firing or excitatory synaptic transmission in postsynaptic dendrites and dendritic spines. The large amplitudes of these activity-induced Na+ transients suggest that this signal will significantly alter electrical and biochemical properties of spines and dendrites and might influence the properties of synaptic transmission.
ISSN:1073-8584
DOI:10.1177/1073858402238512