Permeability of the post-synaptic membrane of an excitatory glutamate synapse to sodium and potassium

Abstract

1. The changes in permeability of the post-synaptic membrane at the insect skeletal neuromuscular junction caused by the excitatory transmitter and L-glutamate have been studied using the voltage clamp technique. 2. The reversal potential (ER) of the excitatory post-synaptic current and the glutamate current was +3 and +4 mV respectively. 3. ER of the synaptic current did not change when external K was altered between 0 and 20 mM, but did show a small positive shift in 40 mM external K. Reducing external Na to 1-10 mM changes ER by 12-18 mV. Reducing external Cl to to zero caused no change in ER. 4. It is proposed that the transmitter and L-glutamate cause an increase in permeability to Na and K, but not to Cl. 5. In normal saline, the ratio of the permeability increase to Na and K (delta PNa/delta PK) is 0.9. 6. The changes in ER caused by altering external K were similar to those predicted by the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation, assuming delta PNa/delta PK stays constant. 7. The changes in ER caused by alterations of external Na are much less than those predicted by the Goldman equation. 8. No glutamate current could be recorded in Na- and Ca-free saline either at the resting potential or at depolarized or hyperpolarized membrane potentials. 9. It is proposed that the outward K current is dependent upon the inward Na current, and that the increase in K permeability is abolished in zero external Na.