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December 2002
Is it just my imagination or do the articles keep getting better? This is now
the fourth offering of Pioneering Neuroscience and I can say without any hesitation, it
is the best one so far. Two things stand out. First, students are addressing questions
that are increasingly sophisticated. Two articles in this issue (Baker & Marion; Taggart
& Torner) reexamine the "classical" explanation of Serotonin's ability to modulate
neurotransmitter release and provide evidence for processes in addition to the
modulation of K+ channels and consequent presynaptic spike broadening. A paper
by Sauter, Campbell, and Caly examines the role and mechanism of action of
metabotropic glutamate receptors at the crayfish neuromuscular junction, a process
that involves a complex set of intracellular reactions. And, there is a contribution from
Dobbs, Kawasaki, & Malik that appears to have discovered a subtle change in the
timing of neurotransmitter release that relates to the rate of diffusion of
Ca2+ into the presynaptic terminal and to its binding site that initiates
exocytosis of the synaptic vesicles.
In addition to the increasing level of complexity of the questions being addressed,
this issue of Pioneering Neuroscience is also noteworthy for the timeliness
and relevance of the questions. Along with the current interest in neuromodulators,
Chon, Galloway & Semova report on the effects of Nitric Oxide and Pluta, Beals, &
Watsa report on the effects of ATP at the crayfish neuromuscular junction. Both
of these papers identify unique aspects of the effects of these neuromodulators.
Bardelson, Carenen, & Henry add to the rapidly growing literature describing
secondary roles for intracellular Ca2+ in the process of neurotransmitter
release. Lastly, no examination of current topics in Neurophysiology would be
complete without mention of the latest arrival on the scene, Glial cells. Once
considered the "supporting cells" or "the glue" of the nervous system, we are just
now coming to realize that Glial cells are active participants in the "Language of
Neurons". Thanks to Marshall, Shah, and Spurgeon's work, we now have a place to
begin studying Glial cells in crayfish neuromuscular junction.
I wish to thank the students of "The Language of Neurons" for their contributions to this
journal; the laboratory instructor, Sue Kolbe, who graciously contributed her teaching
skills and unrelenting enthusiasm; the teaching assistants, Megan Hagenauer and
Kristen Kessler, who provided two extra pairs of hands, which were absolutely
essential more than a few times during the semester; and Stephanie Peterson for
her excellent work in typesetting the journal.
Clark Lindgren, Editor.
Grinnell, Iowa
Pioneering Neuroscience Volume 4, Cover [v4cover.pdf]
Table of Contents [v4contents.pdf]
Preface, by Professor Clark Lindgren [v4preface.pdf]
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
"H-89 inhibits serotonin induced short-term facilitation in the crayfish neuromuscular junction." [v4p01-05.pdf]
J. Taggart & E. Torner
"A presynaptic K+ channel-independent neurotrasmitter release mechanism caused by serotonint may exist in crayfish." [v4p07-11.pdf]
B. Baker & B. Marion
"Chelating intracellular Ca2+ increases the time needed for the recovery of the vesicle pool after high-frequency stimulation." [v4p13-15.pdf]
C.L. Bardelson, B.K. Carenen & M.G. Henry
"ATP decreases EPSP amplitudes in crayfish extensor muscles, while products of its hydrolysis have no effect." [v4p17-20.pdf]
M. Pluta, A. Beals & M. Watsa
f"Activation of group-I mGluRs in the superficial extensor muscle in crayfish tails reduces EPSP amplitude if the preparation is not pre-loaded with EGTA." [v4p21-24.pd]
R. Sauter, P. Campbell & J. Caly
"Sodium nitroprusside decreases EPP facilitation and increases EPP amplitude at the crayfish neuromuscular junctions." [v4p25-29.pdf]
A. Chon, L. Galloway & I. Semova
"Broadened action potentials in the presynaptic cell increase synaptic delay in crayfish neuromuscular junctions." [v4p31-36.pdf]
L. Dobbs, J. Kawasaki & P. Malik
"Perisynaptic Schwann cells are located close to nerve cells in crayfish tail extensor muscles. [v4p37-40.pdf]
B. Marshall, K. Shah & M. Spurgeon
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