We are interested in synaptic transmission, using the frog and mouse neuromuscular junctions as models. The transmitter, acetylcholine, is packaged in vesicles in the nerve terminal. Transmitter is released by exocytosis, both spontaneously and at a greatly increased rate following nerve stimulation. We study the mechanism for loading acetylcholine into the vesicles, the regulation of the quantity loaded by hormones, drugs, and other treatments. We are also investigating the kinetics of the release of transmitter quanta following nerve stimulation.

 

Van der Kloot, W. and Molgo, J. (1994). Quantal acetylcholine release at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction. Physiology Reviews 74: 899-901

Van der Kloot, W. (1995). The rise times of miniature endplate currents suggest that acetylcholine may be released over a period of time. Biophysics Journal 69:148-154

Van der Kloot, W. and Molgo J. (1995). The relation between quantal content and delayed quantal release. Neuroreport 6:1807-1810

Van der Kloot, W. (1996). Spontaneous and uniquantal evoked endplate currents in normal frogs are indistinguishable. Journal of Physiology, 492: 155-162

Van der Kloot, W. (1996). Statistics for studying quanta at synapses: resampling and confidence limits on histograms. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 65: 151-155.

Van der Kloot, W. & Naves, L.A. (1996). Accounting for the shapes and size distribution of miniature endplate

Braloiu, E. and Van der Kloot, W. (1996). Bromoacetylcholine and acetylcholinesterase introduced via liposomes into motor nerve endings block increases in quantal size. Pflügers Archiv 432: 413-418.

Naves, L.A. and Van der Kloot, W. (1996). Transmitter packaging at frog neuromuscular junctions exposed to anticholinesterases; the role of second-stage acetylcholine loading. J. Neurophysiol. 76: 2614-2625.

Van der Kloot, W. and Naves, L.A. (1996). Localizing quantal currents along frog neuromuscular junctions. J. Physiol. 497.1: 189-198.

Van der Kloot, W., Molgó, J. and Naves, L.A. (1997). Cholinergic agonists decrease quantal output at the frog neuromuscular junction by targeting a calcium channel blocked by w -conotoxin. Pflugers Arch. 434: 735-741.

Van der Kloot, W., Benjamin, W. B. Benjamin and Balezina, O.P. (1998). Calcitonin gene- related peptide acts presynaptically to increase quantal size and output at frog neuromuscular junctions. J. Physiol. 507: 689-695.

Van der Kloot, W. (1998). Making quantal analysis easier and more accurate. J. Neurosci. Meth. 77: 129-133.