Diffusion cannot govern the discharge of neurotransmitter in fast synapses. |
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Authors: | R Khanin H Parnas and L Segel |
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Institution: | Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. |
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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. |
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