Modulation of transmitter release and its interaction with the receptor in the neuromuscular junction

New techniques to control the potential in membrane patches are giving in detail important characteristics of the pre- and post-synaptic channels. When used to assess the quantal size regulation during synchronous (evoked) or asynchronous (spontaneous) release of neurotransmitter can provide valuable information above this process. The macropatch technique (a version of the original patch clamp technique), has advantages in comparison with other macroscopic voltage clamp techniques to record the miniature end-plate current, mepc. During this focal recording, the puzzle size variation of mepc's amplitudes produced, from events generated over distant parts of the cell, are removed. The quantal response is an important feature during synaptic plasticity. Therefore, in this review we focus on pre- and post-synaptic aspects from the quantal asynchronous release of neurotransmitter, that occurs in the neuromuscular junction. We take emphasis on the caudal muscle of tadpoles from amphibian.