Analysis of pairs of individual Ia-E.P.S.P.S in single motoneurones. 1976

L M Mendell, and R Weiner

1. Recordings of individual e.p.s.p.s evoked by the action of single medial gastrocnemius Ia fibres have been made from medial gastrocnemius motoneurones. In many motoneurones the action of two Ia fibres has been observed and the properties of the e.p.s.p.s compared. 2. For sixty-three pairs of averaged e.p.s.p.s, each from the same motoneurone, the ratio of half-widths was plotted against the ratio of rise times. These results were compared with theoretical values derived from the Rall compartmental model. It was found that variations in synaptic current time courses and differences in the termination of localized synaptic terminals were not sufficient to account for all the data. 3. Amplitude and rise time were inversely related but the correlation coefficient was very low. For pairs of e.p.s.p.s in the same motoneurone the e.p.s.p. with the fast rise time was larger than that with the slow rise time in forty-eight of sixty-three cases. 4. In a given motoneurone individual e.p.s.p.s evoked by the action of different Ia fibres did not vary greatly in amplitude. The ratio of peak amplitudes was less than 3 for 86% of the pairs of e.p.s.p.s examined, and the maximum was 4-8. 5. Amplitude histograms were constructed for individual e.p.s.p.s at thirty-three synapses. Twenty-two of them could be shown to satisfy the Poisson law. The others satisfied the binomial law or neither. 6. Within a given motoneurone the amplitude of an e.p.s.p. is closely related to the mean number of quanta released but not to the amplitude of the unit e.p.s.p. produced by the action of a single quantum of transmitter.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009435 Synaptic Transmission The communication from a NEURON to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a SYNAPSE. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a NEUROTRANSMITTER that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors, activating them. The activated receptors modulate specific ion channels and/or second-messenger systems in the postsynaptic cell. In electrical synaptic transmission, electrical signals are communicated as an ionic current flow across ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Neural Transmission,Neurotransmission,Transmission, Neural,Transmission, Synaptic
D009475 Neurons, Afferent Neurons which conduct NERVE IMPULSES to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Afferent Neurons,Afferent Neuron,Neuron, Afferent
D009862 Online Systems Computer-based Information systems having real-time remote access to information or processes. On-Line Systems,On Line Systems,On-Line System,Online System,System, On-Line,System, Online,Systems, On-Line,Systems, Online
D002415 Cats The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801) Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D003201 Computers Programmable electronic devices designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations. Calculators, Programmable,Computer Hardware,Computers, Digital,Hardware, Computer,Calculator, Programmable,Computer,Computer, Digital,Digital Computer,Digital Computers,Programmable Calculator,Programmable Calculators
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001369 Axons Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body. Axon
D013569 Synapses Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions. Synapse
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor

Related Publications

L M Mendell, and R Weiner
November 1979, The Journal of physiology,
L M Mendell, and R Weiner
May 1972, The Journal of physiology,
L M Mendell, and R Weiner
July 1984, The Journal of physiology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!