Neuronal Conduction Of Excitation Without Action Potentials Based On Ceramide Production

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 14 Sep 2007 - 2:00 PDT

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Researchers from the Laboratoire de Physiologie Neurovegetative (CNRS-INRA-Universite Paul Cezanne), the Laboratoire de Chimie Biologique Appliquee (INRA-Universite Paul Cezanne) and from the Departement Lipoproteines et Mediateurs Lipidiques (INSERM, Hopital Purpan Toulouse), and in particular Professor Jean-Pierre Miolan, Dr Jean-Pierre Niel, Directeur de Recherche CNRS, Dr Francois Terce, Charge de Recherche INSERM, Dr Abel Hiol Maitre de conference and Dr Caroline Fasano, author in 2004 of the PhD thesis -- Sphingolipides et physiologie des ganglions sympathiques prevertebraux -- have succeeded in demonstrating that a neuronal network in mammals can work perfectly with a mode of conduction of excitation that is independent of action potentials.

This new mechanism involves molecules known to play a role in numerous mechanisms of cell functioning, but not hitherto in conduction of excitation. To elucidate this mechanism, the teams have used a model of integrated physiology on an in vitro preparation in the mammal. This study has been performed using neuropharmacological and biochemical techniques.

This study, reporting the first discovery of conduction of excitation without action potentials, opens up new perspectives for research by breaking away from the classic concept of neuronal functioning. The neurons would thus be fitted with two modes of conduction of excitation, fast and slow, which might be used in different circumstances. This would have important consequences in the fields of physiological research and clinical practice.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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For more scientific information, contact Pr. Miolan

The study was published in the online, open-access journal PLoS ONE on 18 July 2007 (Citation: Fasano C, Tercé F, Niel J, Nguyen HTT, Hiol A, et al. (2007) Neuronal Conduction of Excitation without Action Potentials Based on Ceramide Production. PLoS ONE 2(7): e612. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000612).

Click here to link to the published article.

Source: Lise Grandperrin
Public Library of Science