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Article
Physiological Recordings of High and Low Output NMJs on the Crayfish Leg Extensor Muscle
Journal of Visualized Experiments
  • Wenhui Wu, University of Kentucky
  • Robin L. Cooper, University of Kentucky
Abstract

We explain in detail how to expose and conduct electrophysiological recordings of synaptic responses for high (phasic) and low (tonic) output motor neurons innervating the extensor muscle in the walking leg of a crayfish. Distinct differences are present in the physiology and morphology of the phasic and tonic nerve terminals. The tonic axon contains many more mitochondria, enabling it to take a vital stain more intensely than the phasic axon. The tonic terminals have varicosities, and the phasic terminal is filiform. The tonic terminals are low in synaptic efficacy but show dramatic facilitated responses. In contrast, the phasic terminals are high in quantal efficacy but show synaptic depression with high frequency stimulation. The quantal output is measured with a focal macropatch electrode placed directly over the visualized nerve terminals. Both phasic and tonic terminals innervate the same muscle fibers, which suggests that inherent differences in the neurons, rather than differential retrograde feedback from the muscle, account for the morphological and physiological differentiation.

Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-17-2010
Disciplines
Notes/Citation Information

Published in Journal of Visualized Experiments, v. 45, e2319, p. 1-11.

Copyright © 2010 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
http://dx.doi.org/10.3791/2319
Citation Information
Wenhui Wu and Robin L. Cooper. "Physiological Recordings of High and Low Output NMJs on the Crayfish Leg Extensor Muscle" Journal of Visualized Experiments Vol. 45 Iss. e2319 (2010) p. 1 - 11
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/robin_cooper/94/