Purinergic Signalling in the CNS

Abstract

Purinergic neurotransmission, involving release of ATP as an efferent neurotransmitter was first proposed in 1972. Later it was recognised as a cotransmitter in peripheral nerves and more recently as a cotransmitter with glutamate, noradrenaline, GABA, acetylcholine and dopamine in the CNS. Both ion channel and G protein-coupled receptors for purines and pyrimidines are widely expressed in the brain and spinal cord. They mediate both fast signalling in neuro- transmission and neuromodulation and long-term (trophic) signalling in cell proliferation, differentiation and death. Purinergic signalling is prominent in neuron-glial cell interactions. Purinergic signalling has been implicated in learning and memory, locomotor activity and feeding behaviour. There is increasing interest in the involvement of purinergic sig- nalling in the pathophysiology of the CNS, including trauma, ischaemia, epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, neuropsy- chiatric and mood disorders.