Open AccessQuantal mechanism of long-term synaptic potentiation.
Author(s) -
Douglas A. Baxter,
George D. Bittner,
Thomas H. Brown
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.82.17.5978
Subject(s) - long term potentiation , neuroscience , postsynaptic potential , synapse , axon , excitatory postsynaptic potential , neurotransmission , synaptic augmentation , post tetanic potentiation , neuromuscular junction , tetanic stimulation , chemistry , biology , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , biochemistry , receptor
Intracellular recordings were used to demonstrate the occurrence and to analyze the microphysiology of long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP) in the crayfish opener neuromuscular synapse. Brief stimulation of the single excitor motor axon enhanced the amplitudes of subsequent postsynaptic potentials for several hours. Three methods of quantal analysis were used to evaluate the mechanism responsible for LTP. The results of all three methods supported predictions of the hypothesis that LTP results from a presynaptic mechanism that increases the average of neurotransmitter quanta evoked by nerve impulses in the excitor axon.