First Author | Li L | Year | 1995 |
Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 92 |
Issue | 20 | Pages | 9235-9 |
PubMed ID | 7568108 | Mgi Jnum | J:29086 |
Mgi Id | MGI:76610 | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.92.20.9235 |
Citation | Li L, et al. (1995) Impairment of synaptic vesicle clustering and of synaptic transmission, and increased seizure propensity, in synapsin I-deficient mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 92(20):9235-9 |
abstractText | Synapsin I has been proposed to be involved in the modulation of neurotransmitter release by controlling the availability of synaptic vesicles for exocytosis. To further understand the role of synapsin I in the function of adult nerve terminals, we studied synapsin I-deficient mice generated by homologous recombination. The organization of synaptic vesicles at presynaptic terminals of synapsin I-deficient mice was markedly altered: densely packed vesicles were only present in a narrow rim at active zones, whereas the majority of vesicles were dispersed throughout the terminal area. This was in contrast to the organized vesicle clusters present in terminals of wild-type animals. Release of glutamate from nerve endings, induced by K+,4-aminopyridine, or a Ca2+ ionophore, was markedly decreased in synapsin I mutant mice. The recovery of synaptic transmission after depletion of neurotransmitter by high-frequency stimulation was greatly delayed. Finally, synapsin I-deficient mice exhibited a strikingly increased response to electrical stimulation, as measured by electrographic and behavioral seizures. These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that synapsin I plays a key role in the regulation of nerve terminal function in mature synapses. |