<ol>
<li>One synapse can have different types of receptors for the same neurotransmitter (NT) (example: Glutamate - most glutamatergic synapses have both AMPA and NMDA types of receptors). Synapses can also have receptors for different neurotransmitters (see <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10818/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">link</a>).</li>
<li>One neuron can also have different types of synapses which operate with different NT. An example of that would be shunting inhibition, when first comes excitatory synapse (NT - Glu), which depolarizes the membrane, but AP propagation is stopped by the inhibitory synapse (NT - GABA) which comes later. <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ANKaI.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ANKaI.png" alt="see picture" /></a></li>
</ol>
<p>Hope it helps, I am also just a beginner :)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-04T12:34:22.047Z
2021-03-04T12:34:22.047Z
Alina Zamaletdinova
<p>I have been googling and couldn't find the answer to these questions.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>For a given synapse, can a post-synaptic neuron have multiple types of receptors for different neurotransmitters or is typically just one type of receptor for a given synapse?</p>
</li>
<li><p>For a given post-synaptic neuron, comparing across its dendrite synapses, can it have multiple types of receptors across different synapses or is it typically just one type of receptor for a given neuron?</p>
</li>
<li><p>Do the quantity and types of receptors on a neuron change over time?</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>Thank you - much appreciated.</p>

<neuroscience><neurophysiology>
Types of receptors on a single synapse or neuron
Matt Miguel
# Types of receptors on a single synapse or neuron

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-01-10)

I have been googling and couldn't find the answer to these questions.

1. For a given synapse, can a post-synaptic neuron have multiple types of receptors for different neurotransmitters or is typically just one type of receptor for a given synapse?
2. For a given post-synaptic neuron, comparing across its dendrite synapses, can it have multiple types of receptors across different synapses or is it typically just one type of receptor for a given neuron?
3. Do the quantity and types of receptors on a neuron change over time?

Thank you - much appreciated.

**Tags:** neuroscience, neurophysiology


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-03-04. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

1. One synapse can have different types of receptors for the same neurotransmitter (NT) (example: Glutamate - most glutamatergic synapses have both AMPA and NMDA types of receptors). Synapses can also have receptors for different neurotransmitters (see [link](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10818/)).
2. One neuron can also have different types of synapses which operate with different NT. An example of that would be shunting inhibition, when first comes excitatory synapse (NT - Glu), which depolarizes the membrane, but AP propagation is stopped by the inhibitory synapse (NT - GABA) which comes later. [![see picture](https://i.sstatic.net/ANKaI.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/ANKaI.png)

Hope it helps, I am also just a beginner :)


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