Direct evidence for receptor's role in synapse development
Monday, December 31, 2012 - 20:00
in Biology & Nature
Researchers have provided direct evidence that a specific neurotransmitter receptor is vital to the process of pruning synapses in the brains of newborn mammals. Faulty pruning at this early developmental stage is implicated in autism-spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. The definitive evidence for N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in pruning has eluded researchers until now.