ISSN:
1432-1106
Keywords:
Synaptosome
;
4-Aminopyridine
;
Ultrastructure
;
Exocytosis
;
Recycling
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Pinched-off nerve terminals (synaptosomes) from rat cerebral cortex were depolarized with 60 mM KCl and treated with 20 mM 4-aminopyridine in order to evaluate ultrastructural alterations. The empty presynaptic terminals were counted and their number was given as a percentage of the normal terminals. The proportion of empty terminals increased from 10.47±1.56% to 32.45±1.88% (P 〈 0.001) following treatment with 20 mM 4-aminopyridine. This effect of 4-aminopyridine depended on the presence of Ca++ in the incubation medium. The results are discussed in terms of facilitation by 4-aminopyridine of exocytotic transmitter release. We think that the increase of the empty synaptosomes was due to the exhaustion or inhibition of the synaptic vesicle recycling mechanism.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00236242
