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PMID: 3418542 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Subunit composition of the spontaneous miniature end-plate currents at the mouse neuromuscular junction.

The Journal of physiology ·Vol. 400 ·1988-06-00 ·Pages 659-76

Erxleben C, Kriebel ME

Abstract

1. Adult, neonate and young mouse diaphragm muscle fibres were voltage clamped with a two-electrode clamp. Miniature end-plate currents (MEPCs) were recorded on magnetic tape and analysed with a computer. The MEPC amplitude, charge, rise time, time-to-peak, decay time constant and root mean square (r.m.s.) noise level were determined for each MEPC. 2. The MEPC amplitude and charge distributions showed integral peaks starting from zero. Peaks were enhanced by selecting MEPCs with uniform time characteristics, with low noise, with increased sample size, with a curve smoothing routine and/or with a selected bin size. 3. Integral peaks were found in histograms from neonate, young and old mice. The ratio of sub-MEPCs to bell MEPCs decreased during neonatal development. 4. The size of the peak intervals was the same in all preparations of the same developmental stage. The adult modal peak varied between 8 and 12 times the subunit value, but peak intervals were similar (0.44 +/- 0.04 nA). 5. Changes in the holding potential or the bath temperature, or addition of an anticholinesterase agent, changed the peak interval. 6. The number of peaks in the overall MEPC amplitude and area-to-peak (charge) histogram profiles were usually the same. 7. Integral peaks on MEPC amplitude profiles, notches and steps on the MEPC rising phase and changes in the overall MEPC profiles are explained by a subunit composition of the quantum of transmitter release.

MeSH Terms
Aging/physiology Animals Animals, Newborn/physiology Cholinesterase Inhibitors/pharmacology Hot Temperature In Vitro Techniques Membrane Potentials/drug effects Mice Motor Endplate/physiology Neuromuscular Junction/physiology
Chemicals
Cholinesterase Inhibitors
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Erxleben C
State University of New York Health Science Center, Department of Physiology, Syracuse 13210.
Kriebel M E
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34 references, click to expand
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Article Info
Journal
The Journal of physiology
Abbr.
J Physiol
ISSN
0022-3751
DOI
10.1113/jphysiol.1988.sp017142
Published
1988-06-00
Pages
659-76
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
0266262
PMCID
PMC1191829
Subset
IM
Grants
PHS HHS · 11996 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.1988.sp017142 PMC Full Text View journal details
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