Enormous advances have been made in our understanding of the neurotransmitters, receptors and ionic channels of the brain over the past ten years. The use of gene technology has greatly contributed to an improved study of the receptor ion channels and specific neurotoxins affecting the receptors, and by patch clamp recording of channel currents. This volume brings together the latest research and insights of many of the leading workers in these areas. The topics are grouped into three major subjects which overlap significantly. The first chapters provide an overview of the contributions of studies using neurotoxins which act specifically at receptor sites or ion channels. Succeeding chapters are concerned with molecular studies of receptor proteins, including the recent huge strides made by molecular cloning techniques in the isolation of glutamata and IP3 receptors. The final set of chapters describes our current understanding of the function of glutamate receptors. Particular emphasis has been placed on neuronal basis of learning and memory.Neurobiologists and clinicians who wish to increase their knowledge of the neuroreceptors and ion channels of the brain will find this publication a valuable addition to their library.

This second edition volume expands on the previous edition with new information on the latest developments in the field, and the most up-to-date representative methodological information on molecular neuroanatomical and functional techniques that are currently used to study neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels in the brain. The chapters in this book are organized into three parts. Part One discusses molecular immunological and pharmacological aspects related to the detection of receptors and ion channels in the brain. Part Two explores the neuroanatomical techniques devoted to localizing receptors and ion channels within the central nervous system. Part Three looks at functional approaches devoted to ascertaining receptors and ion channels functionality in the brain. In the Neuromethods series style, chapters include the kind of detail and key advice from the specialists needed to get successful results in your laboratory. Cutting-edge and comprehensive, Receptor and Ion Channels Detection in the Brain, Second Edition is a valuable resource that contains detailed molecular, cellular, neuroanatomical, and electrophysiological methods that will help researchers study neurotransmitter receptor and ion channel in any region of neuron of the brain.

Receptor and Ion Channel Detection in the Brain provides state-of-the-art and up-to-date methodological information on molecular, neuroanatomical and functional techniques that are currently used to study neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels in the brain. The chapters have been contributed by world-wide recognized neuroscientists who explain in an easy and detailed way well established and tested protocols embracing molecular, cellular, subcellular, anatomical and electrophysiological aspects of the brain. This comprehensive and practical manual is presented in a simple, step-by-step manner for laboratory use, and also offers unambiguous detail and key implementation advice that proves essential for successful results and facilitate choosing the best method for the target proteins under study. This work serves as a useful guide for young researchers and students in training as well as for neurologists and established scientists who wish to extend their repertoire of techniques.

This workshop was the second of this series held on the island of santorini in the Cycladic Sea. The first one ("Mechanism of Action of the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor", NATO ASI Se ries H, vol. 10) took place in May 1986 and focused on what was at the time the best studied of all neuroreceptors. This second one, held only two years later, demonstrates the im mense progress achieved since then in the field of neurorecep tors and ion channels. Molecular cloning techniques have now made available the primary structures of a whole array of ion channel proteins, and this in turn has shed light on some gen eral principles of the structure-function relationships of these central elements of intercellular communication. The purpose of this workshop was to explore the common ele ments in gene and protein structure of already cloned ion channel proteins, and to assess the status of other cloning projects in progress. It explicitly focused on very recently published and unpublished results. All participants kept to these goals thereby demonstrating the very value of such work shops for the progress of science.

Understanding how the brain works is undoubtedly the greatest challenge for human intelligence and one of the most ambitious goals of contemporary science. We are certainly far from this goal, but significant advancements in several fields of Neuroscience and Neurobiology are being obtained at an increasing pace. The NATO ASI School in Neurobiology, held in Erice May 2-12,1995, as the 23rd Course of the International School of Biophysics, provided an update on three basic topics: Biophysics and Molecular Biology ofIon Channels, Sensory Transduction, and Higher Order Functions. Current knowledge on these subjects was covered by formal lectures and critical discussions between lecturers and participants. This book collects original contributions from those scientists who attended the School. Many students presented their results in poster sessions, steering lively informal discussions. A selection of these contributions is also included. A major portion of the program of the School was devoted to a general overview of current trends of thought and experimental approaches in neurobiology, emphasising the importance of understanding molecular aspects of the elementary events underlying sensory transduction and processing in the nervous system, without indulging however in a pure reductionistic view of such complex phenomena. Recent studies of molecular biology and the electrophysiology of heterologously expressed ionic channels, have shed new light on the molecular mechanisms underlying ionic permeation of excitable membranes and its regulation by physical and chemical parameters.

Receptors for cell hormones, growth factors, Fourth, alterations in the development of neu and neurotransmitters are involved in the ral receptors may have profound implications control and modulation of an enormous array for the structure and function of the of biological processes. The development of organism. As much as possible, the reper these receptors has distinct spatial and tem cussions of disrupting the orchestration of poral arrangements, and alterations in this receptor development in the nervous system pattern during embryogenesis can have signi are discussed. In many instances, however, ficant consequences for the well-being of the we are just beginning to learn about some fetus, infant, child and adult. The developing receptors and the authors may not be in a nervous system is particularly dependent on position to discuss the consequences of recep receptors because its period of structural and tor dysfunction. functional organization extends through both In designing these two volumes, we have prenatal and postnatal phases. Moreover, asked major figures in each field to review the receptors are a key element in neural com literature, to apprise the audience of their munication in both the developing and adult latest findings, and to provide a perspective on organism, so that the ontogeny of receptors is the role of receptors in the developing nervous crucial in determining the myriad connections system. These books are intended to sum forming the circuitry of the nervous system.