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| José M. Palacios |
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Research and Development Department, Almirall Prodesfarma Research Center, Cardener, 68-74, E-08024 Barcelona, Spain
e-mail: jmpalaci@almirallprodesfarma.com |
Presentation: |
| 2002-10-05, 11:35-12:15 |
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| Receptors in the human brain. |
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| Receptors for neurotransmitters are specialized membrane proteins that recognize neurotransmitter molecules with high selectivity and mediate their physiological effects. In the recent past, our understanding of receptors has increased dramatically. We can now measure receptors using biochemical techniques, visualize them at the microscopic level, and study their signal transduction mechanisms. In addition, the genes encoding many of these receptors have now been identified. Most receptors belong to two large protein families that are made up of multimeric proteins forming ion channels in the membrane, or of a single protein that is characterized by seven transmembrane domains and interacts with guanyl nucleotide binding proteins (G-proteins). Thanks to these advances, it has become possible to study neurotransmitter receptors at the level of mRNA expression using in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH) and at the level of the gene product using receptor autoradiography and immunohistochemistry. In this presentation, I review how those techniques are applied to the study of receptors in human postmortem material, both normal and pathological, and how the information obtained to date can help to establish the cellular localization of neurotransmitter receptors in the human brain, and further our understanding of the neuropharmacology and neuropathology of the human brain. |
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