Synaptic transmission is a key element in neuronal communication in th
e nervous system. It is determined by two basic sets of processes: rel
ease of transmitter from the presynaptic nerve ending and the detectio
n and response by the postsynaptic cell. The release of transmitter is
crucially dependent on the interplay among the ion channels in the su
rface membrane of the presynaptic terminal. In this article we describ
e the methods used in the study of the ion channels in secretory nerve
endings and present the 16 calcium, sodium, chloride, cationic and po
tassium ion channels discovered in various preparations. We speculate
about the physiological and pathophysiological roles of some of these
ion channels.