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. 1980 Mar;77(3):1661–1665. doi: 10.1073/pnas.77.3.1661

Quantal release of acetylcholine examined by current fluctuation analysis at an identified neuro-neuronal synapse of Aplysia.

M Simonneau, L Tauc, G Baux
PMCID: PMC348557  PMID: 6246498

Abstract

Quantal events have been analyzed at a neuro-neuronal synapse of Aplysia where the nature of the transmitter is established and both presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons are identified and can be voltage-clamped. Prolonged depolarizations were applied to the presynaptic neuron, which gave rise in the postsynaptic cell to a current response characterized by current fluctuations or noise. Acetylcholine was also applied ionophoretically on the same postsynaptic cell. Amplitude and time course of miniature currents and acetylcholine-activated chloride channels of the same cell were examined by using a current fluctuation analysis. It was estimated that one presynaptic spike releases about 180 quanta, each opening 500 chloride channels.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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