Premium
Correlation between nerve terminal size and transmitter release at the neuromuscular junction of the frog
Author(s) -
Kuno M.,
Turkanis S. A.,
Weakly J. N.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009399
Subject(s) - neuromuscular junction , anatomy , cholinesterase , terminal (telecommunication) , chemistry , positive correlation , free nerve ending , negative correlation , biophysics , motor endplate , materials science , biology , medicine , endocrinology , neuroscience , telecommunications , computer science
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.