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Evidence for activity-dependent modulation of sensory-terminal excitability in spindles by glutamate release from synaptic-like vesicles

Banks, R.W.; Bewick, G.S.; Reid, B.; Richardson, C.

Authors

G.S. Bewick

B. Reid

C. Richardson



Contributors

Simon.C Gandevia
Editor

Uwe Proske
Editor

Douglas.G Stuart
Editor

Abstract

Sensory terminals of muscle spindles and similar mechanosensory neurons contain large numbers of 50 nm, "synaptic-like" vesicles (SLVs), about whose role very little is known. Using fluorescence microscopy, immunocytochemistry and electrophysiological recording, we present evidence that SLVs undergo a recycling process, and that they release glutamate that has an autogenic excitatory effect on mechanosensory transduction, probably involving a metabotropic receptor linked to phospholipase D. The rate of recycling of SLVs is activity dependent, at least in part, as shown by an increased rate of destaining of preparations labelled with FMI-43 during high-frequency, small-amplitude vibration. Immunogold labelling showed levels of glutamate-like reactivity in the sensory terminals at least as great as in probable Ia presynaptic terminals in the spinal cord. Exogenously applied glutamate has an excitatory effect on the spindle's response to stretch, which is blocked by 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine.

Citation

Banks, R., Bewick, G., Reid, B., & Richardson, C. (2002). Evidence for activity-dependent modulation of sensory-terminal excitability in spindles by glutamate release from synaptic-like vesicles. In S. Gandevia, U. Proske, & D. Stuart (Eds.), Sensorimotor control of movement and posture (13-18). (2002). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0713-0_2

Publication Date Jan 1, 2002
Deposit Date Feb 20, 2008
Publisher Springer Verlag
Pages 13-18
Series Title Advances in experimental medicine and biology
Series Number 508
Edition 2002
Book Title Sensorimotor control of movement and posture.
ISBN 9781461352068
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0713-0_2
Related Public URLs http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=12171103


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