title: Porocytosis: a transient pore array secretes the neurotransmitter packet.
abstract: The porocytosis hypothesis is based on the arrayed nature of synaptic vesicles which forms the anatomical functional unit of secretion. The presynaptic array and the postsynaptic array of receptors form a synaptomere which is the unit of transmission. A transient increase in calcium ions, triggered by an action potential, activates all pores of the array to pulse transmitter. The array insures transmission while permitting a frequency dependent amount of secretion. Therefore the amount of secretion is variable which permits plasticity. Secretion from the array has the property of immediate synaptic plasticity whereas a change in array size would change synaptic strength. The robust nature of the array insures fidelity of transmission, a frequency dependent dynamic signature of transmission giving the property of immediate plasticity; and, a change in array size yields a change in synaptic strength for long term reliability.
authors.affiliation: syntos@pullman.com
authors.forename: Mahlon E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kriebel
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Pappas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D002118:Calcium