title: Numerical simulation of miniature endplate currents.
abstract: A FORTRAN computer program is described which enables solution of a set of partial differential equations describing synaptic transmission, including neurotransmitter diffusion, binding to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane with subsequent formation of open ion-conducting channels, and hydrolysis. Integration is performed with a widely available package (PDETWO), and flexibility is achieved through use of 6 user-specified routines. The reliability of solution was checked by comparison with an analytic solution for a diffusion-only model. Application of the program is illustrated with an analysis of miniature endplate current rise times.
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004058:Diffusion; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D007700:Kinetics; D008433:Mathematics; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000502:physiology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000502:physiology; D012984:Software; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D000109:Acetylcholine