The binomial nature of transmitter release at the crayfish neuromuscular junction. 1971

E W Johnson, and A Wernig

1. Transmitter release at excitatory junctions on the opener muscle of the crayfish dactyl was studied by recording junctional potentials with extracellular micro-electrodes.2. At low temperatures, evoked release was dispersed sufficiently in time for potentials produced by individual quanta to be counted, and the mean (m) and variance (sigma(2)) of the quantum content distribution for a series of trials measured directly. These values were used to calculate the average probability of quantal release (p), assuming a binomial distribution.3. For all values of m and p, the observed release pattern (number of 0, 1, 2, 3,... quantal releases during a series of trials) was approximated closely by the corresponding binomial distribution. However, Poisson predictions differed significantly from the observed quantal distribution for values of p > 0.2.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008433 Mathematics The deductive study of shape, quantity, and dependence. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Mathematic
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
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
D011336 Probability The study of chance processes or the relative frequency characterizing a chance process. Probabilities
D003080 Cold Temperature An absence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably below an accustomed norm. Cold,Cold Temperatures,Temperature, Cold,Temperatures, Cold
D003400 Astacoidea A superfamily of various freshwater CRUSTACEA, in the infraorder Astacidea, comprising the crayfish. Common genera include Astacus and Procambarus. Crayfish resemble lobsters, but are usually much smaller. Astacus,Crayfish,Procambarus,Astacoideas,Crayfishs
D004594 Electrophysiology The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
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

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