The unitary event underlying multiquantal EPSCs at a hair cell's ribbon synapse

Geng Lin Li, Erica Keen, Daniel Andor-Ardó, A. J. Hudspeth, Henrique Von Gersdorff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

131 Scopus citations

Abstract

EPSCs at the synapses of sensory receptors and of some CNS neurons include large events thought to represent the synchronous release of the neurotransmitter contained in several synaptic vesicles by a process known as multiquantal release. However, determination of the unitary, quantal size underlying such putatively multiquantal events has proven difficult at hair cell synapses, hindering confirmation that large EPSCs are in fact multiquantal. Here, we address this issue by performing presynaptic membrane capacitance measurements together with paired recordings at the ribbon synapses of adult hair cells. These simultaneous presynaptic and postsynaptic assays of exocytosis, together with electron microscopic estimates of single vesicle capacitance, allow us to estimate a single vesicle EPSC charge of approximately -45 fC, a value in close agreement with the mean postsynaptic charge transfer of uniformly small EPSCs recorded during periods of presynaptic hyperpolarization. By thus establishing the magnitude of the fundamental quantal event at this peripheral sensory synapse, we provide evidence that the majority of spontaneous and evoked EPSCs are multiquantal. Furthermore, we show that the prevalence of uniquantal versus multiquantal events is Ca2+ dependent. Paired recordings also reveal a tight correlation between membrane capacitance increase and evoked EPSC charge, indicating that glutamate release during prolonged hair cell depolarization does not significantly saturate or desensitize postsynaptic AMPA receptors. We propose that the large EPSCs reflect the highly synchronized release of multiple vesicles at single presynaptic ribbon-type active zones through a compound or coordinated vesicle fusion mechanism.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7558-7568
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume29
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 10 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The unitary event underlying multiquantal EPSCs at a hair cell's ribbon synapse'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this