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. 1971 Mar;213(3):545–556. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009399

Correlation between nerve terminal size and transmitter release at the neuromuscular junction of the frog

M Kuno, S A Turkanis, J N Weakly
PMCID: PMC1331740  PMID: 4323933

Abstract

1. End-plate potentials were recorded intracellularly at the frog neuromuscular junction bathed in a solution containing a low concentration of calcium and a high concentration of magnesium.

2. The muscle was subsequently subjected to `cholinesterase staining', and the area of the individual end-plates, studied with intracellular electrodes, was measured.

3. A positive correlation was found between the end-plate area and the diameter of muscle fibres.

4. The mean quantum content (m) showed a positive correlation with the size of end-plates.

5. The frequency of spontaneous miniature end-plate potentials was positively correlated with m as well as with end-plate area.

6. It is concluded that the amount of transmitter released following nerve stimulation is related to the size of nerve endings.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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