Linked Life Data

9331359

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/9331359

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
1997-11-13
pubmed:abstractText
In many neurons, responses to individual quanta of transmitter exhibit large variations in amplitude. The origin of this variability, although central to our understanding of synaptic transmission and plasticity, remains controversial. To examine the relationship between quantal amplitude and postsynaptic receptor number, we adopted a novel approach, combining patch-clamp recording of synaptic currents with quantitative immunogold localization of synaptic receptors. Here, we report that in cerebellar stellate cells, where variability in GABA miniature synaptic currents is particularly marked, the distribution of quantal amplitudes parallels that of synaptic GABA(A) receptor number. We also show that postsynaptic GABA(A) receptor density is uniform, allowing synaptic area to be used as a measure of relative receptor content. Flurazepam, which increases GABA(A) receptor affinity, prolongs the decay of all miniature currents but selectively increases the amplitude of large events. From this differential effect, we show that a quantum of GABA saturates postsynaptic receptors when <80 receptors are present but results in incomplete occupancy at larger synapses.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
0896-6273
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
19
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
697-709
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-9-29
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1997
pubmed:articleTitle
Differences in synaptic GABA(A) receptor number underlie variation in GABA mini amplitude.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Pharmacology, University College London, United Kingdom.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't