Article abstract
Nature Neuroscience 10, 311 - 320 (2007)
Published online: 11 February 2007 | doi:10.1038/nn1850
Vesicular glutamate release from axons in white matter
Maria Kukley1, Estibaliz Capetillo-Zarate2 & Dirk Dietrich1
Abstract
Vesicular release of neurotransmitter is the universal output signal of neurons in the brain. It is generally believed that fast transmitter release is restricted to nerve terminals that contact postsynaptic cells in the gray matter. Here we show in the rat brain that the neurotransmitter glutamate is also released at discrete sites along axons in white matter in the absence of neurons and nerve terminals. The propagation of single action potentials along axons leads to rapid vesicular release of glutamate, which is detected by ionotropic glutamate receptors on local oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Axonal release of glutamate is reliable, involves highly localized calcium microdomain signaling and is strongly calcium cooperative, similar to vesicle fusion at synapses. This axonal transmitter release represents a widespread mechanism for high-fidelity, activity-dependent signaling at the axon-glia interface in white matter.
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Experimental Neurophysiology, Department of Neurosurgery, University Clinic Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Stra
e 25, 53105, Bonn, Germany. -
Department of Neuropathology, University Clinic Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strae 25, 53105, Bonn, Germany.
Correspondence to: Dirk Dietrich1 e-mail: dirk.dietrich@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Correspondence to: Maria Kukley1 e-mail: maria.kukley@gmx.de
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