QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, November 24, 2004, 24(47):10687-10692; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2755-04.2004

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wang, X. Articles by Rich, M. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wang, X. Articles by Rich, M. M.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Decreased Synaptic Activity Shifts the Calcium Dependence of Release at the Mammalian Neuromuscular Junction In Vivo

Xueyong Wang,¹ Kathrin L. Engisch,² Yingjie Li,¹ Martin J. Pinter,² Timothy C. Cope,² and Mark M. Rich^1,2

¹Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and ²Department of Physiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

We examined the mechanism underlying increased quantal content after block of activity at the mouse neuromuscular junction in vivo. We found that, when quantal content was measured in solution containing normal extracellular calcium, block of activity had no effect on either quantal content or the response to repetitive stimulation. However, when quantal content was measured in low extracellular calcium, there was a large increase in quantal content after block of activity. The increase in quantal content was accompanied by increased depression during repetitive stimulation. The explanation for these findings was that there was a shift in the calcium dependence of release after block of activity that manifested as an increase in probability of release in low extracellular calcium. Block of presynaptic P/Q channels eliminated the increase in probability of release. We propose that activity-dependent regulation of presynaptic calcium entry may contribute to homeostatic regulation of quantal content.

Key words: transmitter release; synaptic plasticity; neuromuscular junction; synaptic activity; quantal content; calcium channel; homeostatic

---

Received July 9, 2004; revised October 4, 2004; accepted October 7, 2004.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				X. Wang, K. L. Engisch, R. W. Teichert, B. M. Olivera, M. J. Pinter, and M. M. Rich Prolongation of Evoked and Spontaneous Synaptic Currents at the Neuromuscular Junction after Activity Blockade Is Caused by the Upregulation of Fetal Acetylcholine Receptors. J. Neurosci., August 30, 2006; 26(35): 8983 - 8987. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Reig, R. Gallego, L. G. Nowak, and M. V. Sanchez-Vives Impact of Cortical Network Activity on Short-term Synaptic Depression Cereb Cortex, May 1, 2006; 16(5): 688 - 695. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Rich The Control of Neuromuscular Transmission in Health and Disease Neuroscientist, April 1, 2006; 12(2): 134 - 142. [Abstract] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help