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Synaptosomes possess an exocytotic pool of glutamate

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that L-glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system1,2. Immunocytochemical studies indicate that glutamate within nerve terminals may be concentrated in vesicles3 and glutamate-accumulating vesicles have recently been isolated4. Exocytotic release of glutamate from synaptosomes (isolated nerve terminals) has not been convincingly demonstrated, however, and remains highly controversial5–7. In order to study the kinetics of release of endogenous L-glutamate from guinea pig cerebral cortical synaptosomes we have devised a continuous enzymatic assay. This has enabled us to identify a pool, equivalent to 15–20% of the total synaptosomal glutamate, which is capable of rapid Ca2+-dependent exocytotic release.

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Nicholls, D., Sihra, T. Synaptosomes possess an exocytotic pool of glutamate. Nature 321, 772–773 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/321772a0

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