Giant synapses in the central auditory system

Giant synapses occur in four nuclei of the au­ditory brainstem. They are characterized by numerous active zones concentrated on the soma of the postsynaptic neuron and by rap­id postsynaptic currents. At these sites, in the ventral cochlear nucleus, the medial and lat­eral nucleus of the trapezoid body and the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, faith­ful preservation of the temporal relation of action potentials to the sound-intercellu­lar precision-is of the utmost importance for neuronal function. The precision of action potential transfer is supported by the large­ly unimodal integration and homogeneity of the single postsynaptic compartment. Due to the much more rapid time constant of the synaptic currents compared with the mem­brane time constant, membrane capacitance dominates postsynaptic integration, enhanc­ing precision of action potential generation. Taken together, the properties of these gi­ant synapses reduce the temporal jitter of the transmission of information in these audito­ry circuits.

Riesensynapsen im zentralen Hörsystem

Giant synapses in the central auditory system.Giant synapses occur in four nuclei of the auditory brainstem. They are characterized by numerous active zones concentrated on the soma of the postsynaptic neuron and by rapid postsynaptic currents. At these sites, in the ventral cochlear nucleus, the medial and lateral nucleus of the trapezoid body and the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, faithful preservation of the temporal relation of action potentials to the sound - inter­cellular precision - is of uttermost importance for neuronal function. The precision of action potential transfer is supported by the largely unimodal integration and by the homogeneity of the single postsynaptic compartment. Due to the much more rapid time constant of the synaptic currents compared to the membrane time constant, membrane capacitance dominates postsynaptic integration, enhancing precision of action potential generation. Taken together, the properties of these giant synapses reduce the temporal jitter of the transmission of information in these auditory circuits.

The form and dimensions of the giant synapse of squids

A study was made of the distal giant synapse, and of proximal synapses, in the stellate ganglion of the squid, Loligo vulgaris . For this purpose we injected iontophoretically dyes or cobalt ions into the pre- or postsynaptic axon. The intra-axonal movement of visible dyes was measured. Both presynaptic fibres, the main second order giant axon and the largest accessory axon, branched to make multiple synaptic contacts on the giant motor axons from near the perikarya down to near the exit of the stellar nerves from the ganglion. There were considerable individual variations in the branching patterns of the presynaptic giant axon and in the course and number of the postsynaptic giant axons. More than one accessory axon made contact with the largest motor axon. Fine structural details of the synapse are presented. The size of the contact area made by the main presynaptic axon on the last postsynaptic axon of a medium-sized animal was estimated from low power electron micrographs. We measured and counted synaptic contacts, synaptic vesicles and mitochondria. The fine structure of proximal synapses was found to be very similar to that of the distal synapse. Cobalt- or dye-injected ganglia showed that the perikarya of the axons which fuse to form the postsynaptic giant axons are located in diffuse and overlapping areas of the giant fibre lobe. In freshly hatched larvae the giant synapse was well differentiated; a gradient of differentiation from brain to periphery was detectable. The distal giant synapses of the oegopsid squid Todarodes sagittatus and of Sepia officinalis differed from the Loligo synapse. In Todarodes and Sepia collaterals and processes from both the presynaptic and the postsynaptic giant fibres are shown to meet in numerous contacts in the enlarged sheath surrounding the third order axon. In several respects the Loligo giant fibre system appears to represent in phylogenetical order the more evolved neuronal network.

Preliminary observations on escape swimming and giant neurons in Aglantha digitale (Hydromedusae: Trachylina)

Aglantha can swim in two ways, one of which, fast swimming, is evoked by contact with predators and serves for escape. The response consists of two or three violent contractions of which the first propels the animal a distance equivalent to five body lengths. Peak velocities in the range 0.3–0.4 m s−1 were measured. Drag is reduced by contraction of the tentacles.Coordination of escape swimming and tentacle contraction is achieved by a system of giant axons. A giant axon runs down each tentacle; action potentials in these elements show a one-for-one correspondence with potentials recorded from a ring-shaped axon lying in the margin near the tentacle bases. The ring giant synapses with eight motor giants which run up the subumbrella innervating the swimming muscles.Conduction velocities in the giant axons may be as high as 4.0 m s−1 in the case of the largest (40 μm diameter) axons. A value of 1.6 ms was obtained for minimum synaptic delay between the ring and motor giant axons.