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Chemistry of Synapses and Synaptic Transmission in the Nervous System of Insects

  • Chapter
Insect Neurochemistry and Neurophysiology · 1986

Part of the book series: Experimental and Clinical Neuroscience ((ECN))

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Abstract

Neurons are the elementary signalling units of the nervous system which differ from other cells in their highly developed ability to generate signals and to communicate with another and with other target cells rapidly, precisely and over long distances. The communication between neurons occurs at specialized structures, the synapses, by means of precisely regulated release of primary messenger molecules, which effectively react on specialized regions of the postsynaptic cell, triggering changes in the permeability and the potential of the membranes either directly or via cellular second messenger molecules. Thus synaptic transmission is considered a fundamental process in neuronal function and it is reasonable to speculate that higher functions in the central nervous system must involve specific structural and molecular elements of synapses. Due to the strategical role, synapses and synaptic transmission are central for understanding how the nervous system works and great efforts are presently made to explore aspects of synaptic transmission in molecular detail.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Osnabrück, 4500, Osnabrück, West Germany

    Heinz Breer

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  1. Heinz Breer
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Insect Reprod. Lab., USDA, Rm. 323, Bldg. 306, ARC-E, Beltsville, Maryland, 20705, USA

    Alexej B. Bořkovec  & Dale B. Gelman  & 

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© 1986 The Humana Press Inc.

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Breer, H. (1986). Chemistry of Synapses and Synaptic Transmission in the Nervous System of Insects. In: Bořkovec, A.B., Gelman, D.B. (eds) Insect Neurochemistry and Neurophysiology · 1986. Experimental and Clinical Neuroscience. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4832-3_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4832-3_5

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9181-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-4832-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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