Introduction

The aim of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of the neurotransmitters in the cerebellum, with a focus on the cerebellar cortex. We have chosen to devote most of the chapter to the recent advances in our understanding of ‘fast’ synaptic transmission and to provide a critical appraisal of some of the novel methods that have made these advances possible. Emphasis is placed on neurochemical and immunocytochemical data and how these data have led to the identification of cerebellar transmitters. Important issues that can be dealt with only superficially within the format of the present chapter include the diversity and synaptic localization of receptors, and their regulation and functional properties. Additional information and references may be sought in a recent review (Takumi et al., 1998) and in the studies of Somogyi and his colleagues (Baude et al., 1994; Nusser et al., 1994, 1996, 1998). The anatomy of the cerebellum is detailed in Chapter 2. For an exhaustive review of the chemoarchitecture of the cerebellum, the reader is referred to Voogd et al. (1996).

The bibliography in this chapter is far from complete and is biased toward recent studies. References to earlier literature can be found in previous reviews (Ottersen and Storm-Mathisen, 1984; Mugnaini and Oertel, 1985; Ottersen, 1993).