Correlation between nerve terminal size and transmitter release at the neuromuscular junction of the frog.
1. End-plate potentials were recorded intracellularly at the frog neuromuscular junction bathed in a solution containing a low concentration of calcium and a high concentration of magnesium.2. The muscle was subsequently subjected to ;cholinesterase staining', and the area of the individual end-plates, studied with intracellular electrodes, was measured.3. A positive correlation was found between the end-plate area and the diameter of muscle fibres.4. The mean quantum content (m) showed a positive correlation with the size of end-plates.5. The frequency of spontaneous miniature end-plate potentials was positively correlated with m as well as with end-plate area.6. It is concluded that the amount of transmitter released following nerve stimulation is related to the size of nerve endings.
D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002802:Cholinesterases; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009210:Myofibrils / Q000502:physiology; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
D002802:Cholinesterases; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium