Axonal Transport of Receptors: Characterization, Role in Receptor Regulation and Possible Involvement in Learning

Abstract

There is an increasing amount of evidence indicating that presynaptic receptors move antero- and retrogradely along axons of neurones through axoplasmic transport mechanisms. The main features of this dynamic process will be presented: it is bidirectional, fast, microtubule dependent and associated with vesicles which are presumably recycled in the cell body. Receptor axonal transport is impaired or enhanced in certain pathological conditions. The implications of this process and its possible involvement in long-term memory will be discussed.