Transport of receptors

The axonal transport of neurotransmitter receptors is thought to be a common phenomenon in many neuronal systems. The “machinery” for receptor (protein) “assembly” is found in the cell bodies of neurons and the “manufacture” of receptors takes place there. These receptors are then “shipped” to their ultimate destinations by a transport process. This is an axonal transport mechanism in the case of presynaptic receptors. Some form of transport process may also exist to send receptors out into the dendritic arborizations of neurons, although the latter is more difficult to verify. Axonal transport has been demonstrated, in the peripheral nervous systems, for many different neurotransmitter receptors. In the central nervous system, the results are less clear, but indicate the presence of a transport mechanism for catecholamine, acetylcholine, and opiate sites. One important component then, in the development of receptors, is the transportation to terminal membrane sites where they are ultimately incorporated and available for interaction with neurotransmitters and drugs.