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Porocytosis: A transient pore array secretes the neurotransmitter packet

  1. Mahlon E. Kriebel†,‡,*,
  2. Bruce Keller§,
  3. Robert B. Silver,
  4. George D. Pappas‖

Article first published online: 25 JAN 2005

DOI: 10.1002/ar.b.20051

Issue

The Anatomical Record Part B: The New Anatomist

The Anatomical Record Part B: The New Anatomist

Volume 282B, Issue 1, pages 38–41, January 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kriebel, M. E., Keller, B., Silver, R. B. and Pappas, G. D. (2005), Porocytosis: A transient pore array secretes the neurotransmitter packet. Anat. Rec., 282B: 38–41. doi: 10.1002/ar.b.20051

Author Information

  1. †

    Fax: 509-635-1336

  2. ‡

    Dr. Kriebel has had a long-standing interest in investigating the nature of cellular secretion mechanisms.

  3. §

    Mr. Keller is an engineer with a long-standing interest in array theory as applied to physical and biological applications. He resides in the Syracuse, New York area.

  4. Dr. Silver is in the Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Radiology, School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and College of Engineering, at Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. He also holds appointments at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI, and the Decision and Information Sciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL.

  5. ‖

    Dr. Pappas is a professor in the Psychiatric Institute, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL.

*P.O. Box 361, Garfield, WA 99130

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 JAN 2005
  2. Article first published online: 25 JAN 2005

Funded by

  • NIH. Grant Numbers: DA015511, SYNTOS-04a

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Keywords:

  • porocytosis;
  • synaptomere;
  • neurotransmitter;
  • secretion;
  • learning;
  • memory;
  • neuroscience

Abstract

The porocytosis hypothesis is based on the arrayed nature of synaptic vesicles which forms the anatomical functional unit of secretion. The presynaptic array and the postsynaptic array of receptors form a synaptomere which is the unit of transmission. A transient increase in calcium ions, triggered by an action potential, activates all pores of the array to pulse transmitter. The array insures transmission while permitting a frequency dependent amount of secretion. Therefore the amount of secretion is variable which permits plasticity. Secretion from the array has the property of immediate synaptic plasticity whereas a change in array size would change synaptic strength. The robust nature of the array insures fidelity of transmission, a frequency dependent dynamic signature of transmission giving the property of immediate plasticity; and, a change in array size yields a change in synaptic strength for long term reliability. Anat Rec (Part B: New Anat) 282B:38–41, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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