ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH OF SYNAPSE FORMATION FROM BEGINNING TO MATURITY

The development of synapses is an important question in neurobiology. We employ patchclamp technique to record MEPCs and EPCs of myoballs in Xenopus cell culture. The rate of EPC/MEPC is related with synapses m aturation. Accordingly, we define the mature synapses as those whose r ate of presynaptic membrane's EPC to MEPC is more than 8. The process of maturation needs about 2-5 h after neurites contact with myoballs. We divide the development of synapses into three stages: young, develo ping and mature. The neurotransmitters stack gradually and increase by hundreds of times along with young synapses growing into maturity. So the process oi synapses maturation should include presynaptic membran e specialization, postsynaptic membrane specialization and neurotransm itters stack.