Studies on homosynaptic (posttetanic) potentiation: a cholinergic modulator of presynaptic origin. 1978

C Torda

Effects of soluble proteins (peptides, glycopeptides) extracted from presynaptic cholinergic vesicles of both rat brain and electric organ of Torpedo marmorata on postsynaptic spike generation were studied. The extracts potentiated postsynaptic effects of both endogenous and exogenous acetylcholine and had properties that fulfilled the minimum necessary requirements by Zetler of a modulator of a specific putative neurotransmitter effect. This modulator seems responsible for homosynaptic (posttetanic) potentiation. Therefore when cholinergic vesicle walls fuse with presynaptic terminal membrane during presynaptic stimulation, they verse into the synaptic cleft "modulator" substance(s) together with acetylcholine.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009419 Nerve Tissue Proteins Proteins, Nerve Tissue,Tissue Proteins, Nerve
D001923 Brain Chemistry Changes in the amounts of various chemicals (neurotransmitters, receptors, enzymes, and other metabolites) specific to the area of the central nervous system contained within the head. These are monitored over time, during sensory stimulation, or under different disease states. Chemistry, Brain,Brain Chemistries,Chemistries, Brain
D002799 Cholinergic Fibers Nerve fibers liberating acetylcholine at the synapse after an impulse. Cholinergic Fiber,Fiber, Cholinergic,Fibers, Cholinergic
D004557 Electric Organ In about 250 species of electric fishes, modified muscle fibers forming disklike multinucleate plates arranged in stacks like batteries in series and embedded in a gelatinous matrix. A large torpedo ray may have half a million plates. Muscles in different parts of the body may be modified, i.e., the trunk and tail in the electric eel, the hyobranchial apparatus in the electric ray, and extrinsic eye muscles in the stargazers. Powerful electric organs emit pulses in brief bursts several times a second. They serve to stun prey and ward off predators. A large torpedo ray can produce of shock of more than 200 volts, capable of stunning a human. (Storer et al., General Zoology, 6th ed, p672) Electric Organs,Organ, Electric,Organs, Electric
D005399 Fishes A group of cold-blooded, aquatic vertebrates having gills, fins, a cartilaginous or bony endoskeleton, and elongated bodies covered with scales.
D005725 Ganglia, Autonomic Clusters of neurons and their processes in the autonomic nervous system. In the autonomic ganglia, the preganglionic fibers from the central nervous system synapse onto the neurons whose axons are the postganglionic fibers innervating target organs. The ganglia also contain intrinsic neurons and supporting cells and preganglionic fibers passing through to other ganglia. Autonomic Ganglia,Ganglion, Autonomic,Autonomic Ganglion
D000200 Action Potentials Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli. Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
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
D013572 Synaptic Vesicles Membrane-bound compartments which contain transmitter molecules. Synaptic vesicles are concentrated at presynaptic terminals. They actively sequester transmitter molecules from the cytoplasm. In at least some synapses, transmitter release occurs by fusion of these vesicles with the presynaptic membrane, followed by exocytosis of their contents. Synaptic Vesicle,Vesicle, Synaptic,Vesicles, Synaptic
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

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