Biophysical Journal 11: 127-139 (1971)
© 1971 the Biophysical Society

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Soucek, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Soucek, B.

Influence of the Latency Fluctuations and the Quantal Process of Transmitter Release on the End-Plate Potentials' Amplitude Distribution

Branko Souek

ABSTRACT

Spontaneous synaptic potentials and their relation to the end-plate potential (e.p.p.) are studied. It has been suggested earlier that the e.p.p. at a single nerve-muscle junction is built up statistically of small all-or-none units which are identical in size with the spontaneous miniature end-plate potentials (m.e.p.p.'s). In this paper, a more general theory is developed which takes into account latency fluctuations of the unit components. A general equation for e.p.p. amplitude probability distribution is derived. This probability distribution is a function of the latency distribution, m.e.p.p.'s pulse shape, m.e.p.p.'s amplitude distribution, and the mean quantal content. The time course of transmitter release, or latency distribution, is derived from a histogram of synaptic delays in a frog muscle, but obtained equations can be used for other distribution functions as well.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. E Nikolsky, F. Vyskocil, E. A Bukharaeva, D. Samigullin, and L. G Magazanik Cholinergic regulation of the evoked quantal release at frog neuromuscular junction J. Physiol., October 1, 2004; 560(1): 77 - 88. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]