scholarly journals The effect of repetitive stimulation on facilitation of transmitter release at the frog neuromuscular junction

1973 ◽  
Vol 234 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Magleby
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Transmitter Release ◽  
Repetitive Stimulation ◽  
Frog Neuromuscular Junction

scholarly journals Role of intracellular Ca2+ in stimulation-induced increases in transmitter release at the frog neuromuscular junction.

1994 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
J E Zengel ◽  
M A Sosa ◽  
R E Poage ◽  
D R Mosier
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Transmitter Release ◽  
Cyclopiazonic Acid ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
Repetitive Stimulation ◽  
Frog Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Quantal Content ◽  
Carbonyl Cyanide ◽  
Stimulation Of

Under conditions of reduced quantal content, repetitive stimulation of a presynaptic nerve can result in a progressive increase in the amount of transmitter released by that nerve in response to stimulation. At the frog neuromuscular junction, this increase in release has been attributed to four different processes: first and second components of facilitation, augmentation, and potentiation (e.g., Zengel, J. E., and K. L. Magleby. 1982. Journal of General Physiology. 80:583-611). It has been suggested that an increased entry of Ca2+ or an accumulation of intraterminal Ca2+ may be responsible for one or more of these processes. To test this hypothesis, we have examined the role of intracellular Ca2+ in mediating changes in end-plate potential (EPP) amplitude during and after repetitive stimulation at the frog neuromuscular junction. We found that increasing the extracellular Ca2+ concentration or exposing the preparation to carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, ionomycin, or cyclopiazonic acid all led to a greater increase in EPP amplitude during conditioning trains of 10-200 impulses applied at a frequency of 20 impulses/s. These experimental manipulations, all of which have been shown to increase intracellular levels of Ca2+, appeared to act by increasing primarily the augmentation component of increased release. The results of this study are consistent with previous suggestions that the different components of increased release represent different mechanisms, and that Ca2+ may be acting at more than one site in the nerve terminal.

scholarly journals Differential effects of Ba2+, Sr2+, and Ca2+ on stimulation-induced changes in transmitter release at the frog neuromuscular junction.

1980 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
J E Zengel ◽  
K L Magleby
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Time Constant ◽  
Transmitter Release ◽  
Repetitive Stimulation ◽  
Kinetic Properties ◽  
Bathing Solution ◽  
Frog Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Endplate Potentials ◽  
Frog Sartorius

Endplate potentials (EPP) were recorded from the frog sartorius neuromuscular junction under conditions of low quantal content to study the effect of Ba2+, Sr2+, and Ca2+ on the changes in evoked transmitter release that occur during and after repetitive stimulation. The addition of 0.1-1 mM Ba2+ or Sr2+ to the Ca2+-containing bathing solution, or the replacement of Ca2+ with 0.8-1.4 mM Sr2+, led to a greater increase in EPP amplitudes during and immediately after repetitive stimulation. These changes in release were analyzed in terms of the four apparent components of increased transmitter release that have previously been distinguished on the basis of their kinetic properties. The Ba2+-induced increase in EPP amplitudes was associated with an increase in the magnitude but not the time constant of decay of augmentation. Ba2+ had little effect on potentiation or the first and second components of facilitation. The Sr2+-induced increase in EPP amplitudes was associated with an increase in the magnitude and the time constant of decay of the second component of facilitation. Sr2+ had little effect on potentiation, augmentation, or the first component of facilitation. The selective effects of Ba2+ on augmentation and of Sr2+ on the second component of facilitation were reversible and could be obtained in the presence of the other ion. The addition of 0.1-0.3 mM Ca2+ to the bathing solution had little effect on potentiation, augmentation, or the two components of facilitation. These results provide pharmacological support for the proposal that there are four different components of increased transmitter release associated with repetitive stimulation and suggest that the underlying factors in the nerve terminal that give rise to these components can act somewhat independently of one another.

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