ABSTRACT
Neuronal and glial cell membranes store a wide variety of lipid messengers as part of phospholipid molecules. Receptor-mediated events and changes in intracellular [Ca2+], which occur during excitatory neurotransmission and in activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, activate phospholipases that catalyze the release of bioactive moieties from membrane phospholipid. These messengers then participate in intracellular and/or intercellular signaling pathways. Bioactive lipids have significant neurobiological actions in neurotransmitter release, synaptic plasticity, and programs of neuronal gene expression. Accordingly, much of contemporary research into bioactive lipids has focussed on their neurobiological significance.
