Postsynaptic structure may account for variations in miniature endplate current shapes along frog neuromuscular junctions. 1990

L P Fortier, and J P Tremblay
Laboratoire de Neurobiologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.

Intracellular recordings were made in the presence of 6-9 microM neostigmine with an electrode placed halfway between the distal end and the proximal region of a long simple branch of a frog neuromuscular junction. During the intracellular recording period, an extracellular electrode was placed alternatively at a distal and at a proximal site. The temporal correspondence between the extracellular miniature endplate current and intracellular miniature endplate potential permitted us to identify two miniature endplate potential (MEPP) populations originating, respectively, from the distal and proximal regions. The frequency and intracellular amplitude of MEPPs were higher in the proximal than in the distal region. The rise time and the decay time of the extracellularly recorded MEPC were longer in the proximal region. A significant correlation was observed between the amplitude (in mV) and surface (in mV.ms) of MEPCs. The slope of this regression line was steeper for the proximal region. Furthermore, the correlation coefficient was lower for that region owing to variations of MEPC shape. Our observations suggest that in the presence of anticholinesterase, ACh rebinds more often to acetylcholine receptors in the proximal region because of the presence of longer postjunctional folds.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009045 Motor Endplate The specialized postsynaptic region of a muscle cell. The motor endplate is immediately across the synaptic cleft from the presynaptic axon terminal. Among its anatomical specializations are junctional folds which harbor a high density of cholinergic receptors. Motor End-Plate,End-Plate, Motor,End-Plates, Motor,Endplate, Motor,Endplates, Motor,Motor End Plate,Motor End-Plates,Motor Endplates
D009388 Neostigmine A cholinesterase inhibitor used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis and to reverse the effects of muscle relaxants such as gallamine and tubocurarine. Neostigmine, unlike PHYSOSTIGMINE, does not cross the blood-brain barrier. Synstigmin,Neostigmine Bromide,Neostigmine Methylsulfate,Polstigmine,Proserine,Prostigmin,Prostigmine,Prozerin,Syntostigmine,Bromide, Neostigmine,Methylsulfate, Neostigmine
D009469 Neuromuscular Junction The synapse between a neuron and a muscle. Myoneural Junction,Nerve-Muscle Preparation,Junction, Myoneural,Junction, Neuromuscular,Junctions, Myoneural,Junctions, Neuromuscular,Myoneural Junctions,Nerve Muscle Preparation,Nerve-Muscle Preparations,Neuromuscular Junctions,Preparation, Nerve-Muscle,Preparations, Nerve-Muscle
D011894 Rana pipiens A highly variable species of the family Ranidae in Canada, the United States and Central America. It is the most widely used Anuran in biomedical research. Frog, Leopard,Leopard Frog,Lithobates pipiens,Frogs, Leopard,Leopard Frogs
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
D066298 In Vitro Techniques Methods to study reactions or processes taking place in an artificial environment outside the living organism. In Vitro Test,In Vitro Testing,In Vitro Tests,In Vitro as Topic,In Vitro,In Vitro Technique,In Vitro Testings,Technique, In Vitro,Techniques, In Vitro,Test, In Vitro,Testing, In Vitro,Testings, In Vitro,Tests, In Vitro,Vitro Testing, In

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