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Biophysical Journal 8: 396-414 (1968)
© 1968 the Biophysical Society

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Electric Dipole Theory of Chemical Synaptic Transmission

Ling Y. Wei

ABSTRACT

In this paper we propose that chemicals such as acetylcholine are electric dipoles which when oriented and arranged in a large array could produce an electric field strong enough to drive positive ions over the junction barrier of the post-synaptic membrane and thus initiate excitation or produce depolarization. This theory is able to explain a great number of facts such as cleft size, synaptic delay, nonregeneration, subthreshold integration, facilitation with repetition, and the calcium and magnesium effects. It also shows why and how acetylcholine could act as excitatory or inhibitory transmitters under different circumstances. Our conclusion is that the nature of synaptic transmission is essentially electrical, be it mediated by electrical or chemical transmitters.




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L. Y. Wei
Role of Surface Dipoles on Axon Membrane
Science, January 17, 1969; 163(3864): 280 - 282.
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Copyright © 1968 by the Biophysical Society.