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Science 10 September 1999:
Vol. 285. no. 5434, pp. 1725 - 1728
DOI: 10.1126/science.285.5434.1725
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Reports

Activity-Induced Potentiation of Developing Neuromuscular Synapses

Ji-jun Wan, Mu-ming Poo *

Electrical activity plays a critical role in shaping the structure and function of synaptic connections in the nervous system. In Xenopus nerve-muscle cultures, a brief burst of action potentials in the presynaptic neuron induced a persistent potentiation of neuromuscular synapses that exhibit immature synaptic functions. Induction of potentiation required an elevation of postsynaptic Ca2+ and expression of potentiation appeared to involve an increased probability of transmitter secretion from the presynaptic nerve terminal. Thus, activity-dependent persistent synaptic enhancement may reflect properties characteristic of immature synaptic connections, and bursting activity in developing spinal neurons may promote functional maturation of the neuromuscular synapse.

Department of Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mpoo{at}ucsd.edu

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