Central synapses release a resource-efficient amount of glutamate

Leonid P Savtchenko; Serigy  Sylantyev; Dmitri A Rusakov

doi:10.1038/nn.3285

Central synapses release a resource-efficient amount of glutamate

Leonid P Savtchenko, Serigy Sylantyev, Dmitri A Rusakov

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Why synapses release a certain amount of neurotransmitter is poorly understood. We combined patch-clamp electrophysiology with computer simulations to estimate how much glutamate is discharged at two distinct central synapses of the rat. We found that, regardless of some uncertainty over synaptic microenvironment, synapses generate the maximal current per released glutamate molecule while maximizing signal information content. Our result suggests that synapses operate on a principle of resource optimization.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	10-12
Number of pages	3
Journal	Nature Neuroscience
Volume	16
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.3285
Publication status	Published - Jan 2013

Keywords

Animals
Biophysics
Cerebellum
Computer Simulation
Dipeptides
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Electric Stimulation
Entropy
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
Glutamic Acid
Hippocampus
Male
Models, Neurological
Monte Carlo Method
Mossy Fibers, Hippocampal
Nerve Fibers
Neurons
Patch-Clamp Techniques
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, AMPA
Synapses

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Central synapses release a resource-efficient amount of glutamateAccepted author manuscript, 1.47 MB

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Cite this

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title = "Central synapses release a resource-efficient amount of glutamate",

abstract = "Why synapses release a certain amount of neurotransmitter is poorly understood. We combined patch-clamp electrophysiology with computer simulations to estimate how much glutamate is discharged at two distinct central synapses of the rat. We found that, regardless of some uncertainty over synaptic microenvironment, synapses generate the maximal current per released glutamate molecule while maximizing signal information content. Our result suggests that synapses operate on a principle of resource optimization.",

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author = "Savtchenko, {Leonid P} and Serigy Sylantyev and Rusakov, {Dmitri A}",

note = "This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust, UK Medical Research Council, European Research Council Advanced Grant, and Biotechnology and UK Biological Sciences Research Council",

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AU - Sylantyev, Serigy

AU - Rusakov, Dmitri A

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N2 - Why synapses release a certain amount of neurotransmitter is poorly understood. We combined patch-clamp electrophysiology with computer simulations to estimate how much glutamate is discharged at two distinct central synapses of the rat. We found that, regardless of some uncertainty over synaptic microenvironment, synapses generate the maximal current per released glutamate molecule while maximizing signal information content. Our result suggests that synapses operate on a principle of resource optimization.

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KW - Entropy

KW - Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials

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KW - Models, Neurological

KW - Monte Carlo Method

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Central synapses release a resource-efficient amount of glutamate

Abstract

Keywords

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