title: Molecular model of postsynaptic potential.
abstract: A molecular model of the excitatory postsynaptic membrane is given in terms of two biochemical cycles intimately associated: an acetylcholine cycle and a calcium cycle. The acetylcholine controls the Na ionophores while calcium ions control the tk ionophore. The two ionophores are spatially separated but interact in such a way that the variation in K conductance precedes that in Na conductance. Digital simulation shows that our model accounts quantitatively for both the evolution of excitatory postsynaptic potential and current in a variety of experimental conditions.
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008433:Mathematics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008954:Models, Biological; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology; D012964:Sodium / Q000502:physiology; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000109:Acetylcholine; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium