Abstract
In this paper we propose that chemicals such as acetylcholine are electric dipoles which when oriented and arranged in a large array could produce an electric field strong enough to drive positive ions over the junction barrier of the post-synaptic membrane and thus initiate excitation or produce depolarization. This theory is able to explain a great number of facts such as cleft size, synaptic delay, nonregeneration, subthreshold integration, facilitation with repetition, and the calcium and magnesium effects. It also shows why and how acetylcholine could act as excitatory or inhibitory transmitters under different circumstances. Our conclusion is that the nature of synaptic transmission is essentially electrical, be it mediated by electrical or chemical transmitters.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Eccles J. C. The ionic mechanisms of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic action. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1966 Jul 14;137(2):473–494. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1966.tb50176.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FURSHPAN E. J. "ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION" AT AN EXCITATORY SYNAPSE IN A VERTEBRATE BRAIN. Science. 1964 May 15;144(3620):878–880. doi: 10.1126/science.144.3620.878. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FURSHPAN E. J., POTTER D. D. Transmission at the giant motor synapses of the crayfish. J Physiol. 1959 Mar 3;145(2):289–325. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1959.sp006143. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FURUKAWA T., FURSHPAN E. J. Two inhibitory mechanisms in the Mauthner neurons of goldfish. J Neurophysiol. 1963 Jan;26:140–176. doi: 10.1152/jn.1963.26.1.140. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Larramendi L. M., Fickenscher L., Lemkey-Johnston N. Synaptic vesicles of inhibitory and excitatory TERMINALS IN THE CEREBELLUM. Science. 1967 May 19;156(3777):967–969. doi: 10.1126/science.156.3777.967. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WILSON I. B., BERGMANN F., NACHMANSOHN D. Acetylcholinesterase. X. Mechanism of the catalysis of acylation reactions. J Biol Chem. 1950 Oct;186(2):781–790. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]