The relationship of pinocytosis and synaptic vesicles at the frog neuromuscular junction

The fate of the extracellular marker horseradish peroxidase (HRP), following intense transmitter release was studied using identified muscle fibers from the frog sartorius nerve-muscle preparation. The muscle was stimulated indirectly via its nerve at 10 Hz or K+-depolarized for 15 min. Other preparations were also stimulated or K+-depolarized for 15 min and then rested for an additional 15 min. Endings from only identified muscle fibers were photographed with the electron microscope. It was found that in the paradigms studied above, less than 10% of the mean number of synaptic vesicle profiles per section contained the marker. Following electrical stimulation, there was a statistically significant decrease in the mean number of synaptic vesicle profiles per section. After a 15 min rest period, the vesicle profile number had returned to the control value. At this time point, the endplate potential was but 25% of the control. K+-depolarization caused no significant change in the mean number of synaptic vesicle profiles per section. Experiments were also performed to rule out any direct effect of the label on the number of coated and synaptic vesicle profiles. The mean number of labeled coated vesicle profiles increased during either electrical stimulation or K+-depolarization, and then fell during the subsequent rest period. Their numbers accounted for less than 2% of the total number vesicles/section. A suprisingly high number of coated vesicle profiles (as high as 41%) contained no label. This finding is inconsistent with the exclusive role of coated vesicles associated with synaptic vesicle membrane recycling. The low level of HRP labeling of synaptic vesicles is also inconsistent with synaptic vesicles undergoing exo- and endocytosis along the presynaptic plasma membrane.