The relationship between the number of synaptic vesicles and the amount of transmitter released

Abstract

The relationship between the number of synaptic vesicles and the amount of transmitter released from identified synapses was investigated in the dorsal longitudinal flight muscle (DLM) of the temperature-sensitive endocytosis mutant of Drosophila melanogaster, shibirets-1(shi). In the shi fly at 29 degrees C, vesicle recyling is blocked, but transmitter release proceeds normally. Thus, by inducing transmitter release at 29 degrees C, shi synapses gradually become depleted of synaptic vesicles. In this way it was possible to regulate the number of vesicles in a synapse. Intracellular recordings were made from individual fibers of the DLM in shi flies after various periods at 29 degrees C while stimulating at 0.5 Hz. The amplitude of the evoked excitatory junction potential (ejp), gradually decreased with longer exposure and was brought to various levels. The fiber was then rapidly fixed for electron microscopy. The number of vesicles per synapse was compared with the amplitude of the ejp at the time of fixation. It was observed that the smaller the ejp amplitudes became, the fewer vesicles were in the synapses. Also, as the ejp amplitude decreased, an increased number of synapses contained no vesicles. It is concluded that synaptic vesicles are directly involved in the release process.