Synaptosomal transport processes.

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of synaptosomal transport processes. The synaptosome is a fundamental in vitro preparation for studying the dynamic biochemical aspect of neurotransmission and neurosecretion. It qualifies, in many respects, as a functioning presynaptic entity with an impressive range of metabolic and transmission based properties. Synaptosomes prepared from whole brain or from grossly dissected brain areas are heterogeneous; the purest synaptosomal preparation contains populations of nerve endings synthesizing and utilizing different neurotransmitters. In spite of this heterogeneity, synaptosomes are often preferred to other nervous tissues preparations in studies concerned with properties believed to be specific to presynaptic nerve terminals. In addition, studies on synaptosomal transport processes are performed under a variety of experimental conditions whose importance in the determination of the results obtained has rarely been evaluated. This chapter illustrates some examples in this context and reviews the aspects of neurotransmitter transport at nerve endings.