LIFESCI 2C03 Chapter 8: LS2CC3_CH8 notes
16 Feb 2016
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Synaptic plasticity: either weaken or strengthen synaptic transmission. Synaptic facilitation: rapid increase in synaptic strength that occurs when more than 2 ap invade presynaptic terminal; due to elevation of calcium (returning to normal level is slower) Subsequent presynaptic ap -> build up of calcium that increases the nt release slowed. Synaptic depression: nt decline during sustained synaptic activity; amount of depression depends on the amount of nt that has been released. Decrease in external ca -> decrease in # of quanta released -> depression. Depression is caused by the progressive depletion of a pool of synaptic vesicles that are available for release: rates of release high -> vesicles deplete rapidly -> a lot of depression. Vesicle depletion hypothesis: depression causes the strength of transmission to decline until this pool is replenished by mobilization of vesicles form a reserve pool. More depletion after the size of the reserve pool is reduced by impairing synapsin (maintains vesicles in a reserve pool)
