This volume provides an interdisciplinary approach to this central research topic. Firstly, the hippocampus is presented generally as a model for experiments on neurotransmission in the central nervous system; secondly, special features of synaptic organisation and synaptic transmission in this area of the brain are introduced. Of particular note is the wide-ranging methodological approach which includes light and electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry, Golgi/EM techniques, intracellular differentiation and intracellular colorings, histochemistry of transmitter enzymes and receptoraudiography. The reader thereby gains insight into the broad scope of methodological possibilities for the examination of such a complex problem as neurotransmission in the hippocampus.

1 Introduction

2 Neuronal Elements in the Hippocampus and Their Synaptic Connections
2.1 Hippocampal Neurons
2.2 Synaptic Connections of Identified Neurons in the Hippocampus
2.3 Functional Implications
3 Membrane Properties and Postsynaptic Responses of Hippocampal Neurons
3.1 Various Cell Types in the Slice Preparation
3.2 Short-Distance Excitatory Connections
3.3 GABAergic Inhibition
3.4 Cholinergic Excitation
3.5 Conclusions
4 The Enzyme Histochemistry of Neurotransmitter Metabolism
4.1 Enzymes Related to the Cholinergic Transmitter System
4.2 Enzymes Related to the Amino Acid Transmitter System
4.3 Conclusions
5 Receptor Autoradiography in the Hippocampus of Man and Rat
5.1 Quantitative Receptor Autoradiography as a Functional Approach
5.2 Distribution of Receptors in the Hippocampus of the Rat
5.3 Distribution of Binding Sites in the Human Hippocampus
5.4 Comparison of Receptor Distribution in the Hippocampus of Rat and Man
Concluding Remarks
Summary
References.