Calcium regulation of neurotransmitter release: reliably unreliable?

Curr Opin Cell Biol. 1997 Aug;9(4):513-8. doi: 10.1016/s0955-0674(97)80027-0.

Abstract

Recent studies of central synaptic transmission reveal that neurotransmitter release is more unreliable than was previously thought. Nerve stimulation does not always elicit transmitter release, and when release events occur vesicle fusion with the presynaptic membrane is limited to at most a single quantum.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Calcium / physiology*
  • Calcium Channels / physiology
  • Cell Membrane / physiology
  • Endocytosis
  • Exocytosis
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Homeostasis
  • Membrane Fusion
  • Models, Neurological
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / physiology*
  • Quantum Theory
  • Synapses / physiology*
  • Synaptic Membranes / physiology

Substances

  • Calcium Channels
  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Calcium