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Neural top–down control of physiology concerns the direct regulation by the brain of physiological functions (in addition to smooth muscle and glandular ones). Cellular functions include the immune system’s production of T-lymphocytes and antibodies, and nonimmune related homeostatic functions such as liver gluconeogenesis, sodium reabsorption, osmoregulation, and brown adipose tissue ...
The VTA contains 5-HT 1A receptors that exert a biphasic effects on firing, with low doses of 5-HT 1A receptor agonists eliciting an increase in firing rate, and higher doses suppressing activity. The 5-HT 2A receptors expressed on dopaminergic neurons increase activity, while 5-HT 2C receptors elicit a decrease in activity. [ 39 ]
Excitotoxicity can occur from substances produced within the body (endogenous excitotoxins).Glutamate is a prime example of an excitotoxin in the brain, and it is also the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system of mammals. [14]
When DAT activity is blocked, the synapse floods with dopamine and increases dopaminergic signaling. When this occurs, particularly in the nucleus accumbens, [50] increased D 1 [43] and decreased D 2 [50] receptor signaling mediates the "incentive salience" factor and can significantly increase positive associations with the drug in the brain. [49]
Another example, sonic hedgehog signaling pathway, is one of the key regulators of embryonic development and is present in all bilaterians. [2] Signaling proteins give cells information to make the embryo develop properly. When the pathway malfunctions, it can result in diseases like basal cell carcinoma. [3]
Co-expression of the α 2 δ enhances the level of expression of the α 1 subunit and causes an increase in current amplitude, faster activation and inactivation kinetics and a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of inactivation. Some of these effects are observed in the absence of the beta subunit, whereas, in other cases, the co ...
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), or abrineurin, [5] is a protein [6] that, in humans, is encoded by the BDNF gene. [ 7 ] [ 8 ] BDNF is a member of the neurotrophin family of growth factors, which are related to the canonical nerve growth factor (NGF), a family which also includes NT-3 and NT-4 /NT-5.
Purinergic signalling (or signaling: see American and British English differences) is a form of extracellular signalling mediated by purine nucleotides and nucleosides such as adenosine and ATP. It involves the activation of purinergic receptors in the cell and/or in nearby cells, thereby regulating cellular functions.