Synaptic transmission used to be simple: transmitter was released from axonal terminals and activated immediately adjacent postsynaptic receptors. Life got more complicated when it became clear that transmitter could be released from some dendrites and glia as well and could spill over to extrasynaptic membranes, to other synapses, or onto glial cells. Recently Matsui and Jahr reported a new form of neuronal glial glutamate signaling.

2. Forming Intracortical Projections
Kelly J. Huffman, Sonia Garel, and John L. R. Rubenstein

The neocortex is organized into areas with distinct functions, and this organization requires not only segregation of these areas but appropriate connectivity between and within cortical areas. The areas arise according to instructions from molecules such as FGF8, which is secreted in the rostral telencephalon during development. Formation of intracortical and thalamocortical connectivity appears to be under separate developmental control mechanisms.

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Contact: Mary Anne Walker
mwalker@sfn.org
202-462-6688
Society for Neuroscience
13-Oct-2004