Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Different quantal responses within single frog neuromuscular junctions.

A Bieser, A Wernig, H Zucker

    The Journal of Physiology
    |May 1, 1984
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Response to 'Randomised controlled trials do not always give the results we want but that doesn't mean we should abandon randomised controlled trials'.

    Spinal cord·2015
    Same author

    Locomotor programs versus 'conventional' physical therapy? Locomotor training.

    Spinal cord·2012
    Same author

    Retrobulbar neuritis; a case history.

    The Optometric weekly·2010
    Same author

    Deviations from simple binomial predictions of transmitter release at frog neuromuscular junctions.

    Neuroscience letters·2009
    Same author

    On the presynaptic nature of the quantal subunit.

    Neuroscience letters·2009
    Same author

    Access to essential medicines for children: the world health organization's global response.

    Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics·2007
    Same journal

    Smooth muscle cell polycystin 1 (PKD1) is dispensable for physiological regulation of arterial contractility.

    The Journal of physiology·2026
    Same journal

    Protein synthesis in collagenous and non-collagenous fractions of human patellar tendon: Influence of tendinopathy and short-term exercise.

    The Journal of physiology·2026
    Same journal

    Who are you, ketamine? Good, evil, or dose- and context-dependent?

    The Journal of physiology·2026
    Same journal

    Nuances in explaining the blunted erythropoietic response at altitude following recombinant human erythropoietin treatment at sea level.

    The Journal of physiology·2026
    Same journal

    Sex-dependent responses to glucagon agonist therapies in obesity: Mechanistic insights and broader pharmacological implications.

    The Journal of physiology·2026
    Same journal

    Brain sparing in fetal growth restriction: The double-edged sword of fetal hypoxaemia.

    The Journal of physiology·2026
    See all related articles

    Investigating frog neuromuscular junctions, this study found that the size of neurotransmitter release (quantum size) is generally consistent across different points within a single synapse, but can vary significantly at specific locations. These variations correlate with structural features of the nerve terminal.

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Cell Biology
    • Physiology

    Background:

    • Frog neuromuscular junctions are critical for muscle contraction.
    • Spontaneous miniature end-plate potentials (m.e.p.p.s) reflect neurotransmitter release.
    • Understanding neurotransmitter release variability is key to synaptic function.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the variability of quantum size at different recording sites within single frog neuromuscular junctions.
    • To correlate variations in quantum size with the structural characteristics of nerve terminals.

    Main Methods:

    • Extracellular focal electrode recordings of m.e.p.p.s at multiple sites within single synapses.
    • Simultaneous intracellular electrode recording.
    • Muscle staining to identify axon terminals and cholinesterase (ChE) distribution.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Correlation of recording sites with stained anatomical features.

    • Main Results:

    • Mean m.e.p.p. amplitude (quantum size) was often similar at various spots along the same nerve terminal branches.
    • Significant variations (10-60%) in mean quantum amplitude were observed at different spots within single junctions.
    • Control recordings showed minimal variation (5-10%) with electrode repositioning.
    • Variations in quantum size correlated with locations at cholinesterase rings or distal nerve branch ends.

    Conclusions:

    • Quantum size is largely consistent within a single neuromuscular junction but shows marked deviations at specific sites.
    • These deviations are linked to the non-homogeneous structure and ongoing remodeling of the neuromuscular junction.
    • Findings support the view of frog neuromuscular junctions as dynamic, structurally heterogeneous entities.