Diffusion cannot govern the discharge of neurotransmitter in fast synapses

R. Khanin*, H. Parnas, L. Segel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the present work we show that diffusion cannot provide the observed fast discharge of neurotransmitter from a synaptic vesicle during neurotransmitter release, mainly because it is not sufficiently rapid nor is it sufficiently temperature-dependent. Modeling the discharge from the vesicle into the cleft as a continuous point source, we have determined that discharge should occur in 50–75 microseconds, to provide the observed high concentrations of transmitter at the critical zone.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)966-972
Number of pages7
JournalBiophysical Journal
Volume67
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1994
Externally publishedYes

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