Synaptic depression related to presynaptic axon conduction block.

Abstract

The depression of synaptic transmission which occurs during prolonged repetitive activation, was examined in the opener muscle of the crayfish [Astacus leptodactylus] walking leg. Excitatory post-synaptic potentials (e.p.s.p.) initially facilitated but then declined to low amplitudes after .apprx. 4000 stimulus pulses had been delivered; this depression is presynaptic in origin. Axon conduction blocks occurred at points of bifurcation along the entire length of the presynaptic nerve. This resulted in failure of the nerve impulse to invade some branches of the terminal arborization. Nerve terminal invasion failure caused either intermittent or complete inactivation of some synaptic release sites; this was associated with depression of the post-synaptic response. The statistics of transmitter release during prolonged repetitive stimulation were examined by focal extracellular recording methods. Transmitter release could be described by binomial statistics, and depression involved a drop in m, n and p. The rate of spontaneous quantal release did not decrease, however, arguing against transmitter depletion. Repetitive stimulation eventually leads to depolarization of the axon membrane. This causes impulse propagation failure which reduces the number of synaptic release sites that are activated and mimics a drop in the effective stimulation rate; both effects cause synaptic depression.