ATP - A FAST NEUROTRANSMITTER

ATP receptor-mediated responses in peripheral and central neurones hav e many characteristics which suggest that ATP may act as a fast neurot ransmitter. While the receptors underlying these responses have proper ties which are similar to other ligand-gated ion channels which mediat e fast neurotransmision, the nature of their calcium permeability and the rapid breakdown of ATP to adenosine may confer unique properties o n ATP mediated synaptic transmission. The evidence that ATP acts as a fast neurotransmitter is reviewed and the properties of ATP and its re ceptor channels are discussed in terms of synaptic transmission.