Excitotoxins cause neurons to become so over-excited that they burn out and die.
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that act as messengers between cells in the brain and nervous system.
When an impulse arrives at a neuron, neurotransmitter molecules are released from its axon. The molecules diffuse across a short gap and bind with an empty receptor on the surface of another neuron, or on a muscle or gland.
There are many different neurotransmitters and more than one kind might be used between an axon, gap, and receptor (together called a synapse).
When metabolic processes are functioning normally, the concentration of neurotransmitter is quickly reduced and cellular 'housekeeping' takes place to keep everything healthy and in balance. Everything happens in milliseconds or less.
Too much of a neurotransmitter makes it excitotoxic. The receptors over-activate.
Ultimately the nerve cannot keep up and kills itself (apoptosis) or triggers a nearby cell to devour it(phagocytosis).
When an impulse arrives at a neuron, neurotransmitter molecules are released from its axon. The molecules diffuse across a short gap and bind with an empty receptor on the surface of another neuron, or on a muscle or gland.
There are many different neurotransmitters and more than one kind might be used between an axon, gap, and receptor (together called a synapse).
When metabolic processes are functioning normally, the concentration of neurotransmitter is quickly reduced and cellular 'housekeeping' takes place to keep everything healthy and in balance. Everything happens in milliseconds or less.
Too much of a neurotransmitter makes it excitotoxic. The receptors over-activate.
Ultimately the nerve cannot keep up and kills itself (apoptosis) or triggers a nearby cell to devour it(phagocytosis).
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