Dunn R A, Morest D K
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Sep;72(9):3599-603. doi: 10.1073/pnas.72.9.3599.
This report describes recepto-neural junctions thought to be chemical synapses without synaptic ribbons or vesicle aggregates. Such synapses occur in the cat between the outer hair cells of the cochlea and auditory nerve fibers. These synapses are formed by flat or indented junctions having symmetric membrane complexes associated with smooth endoplasmic reticulum and coated vesicles in the outer hair cell cytoplasm. Inner hair cells have receptoneural junctions with asymmetric membrane complexes; synaptic ribbons and vesicles gather at one type of junction, while the other type associates with endoplasmic reticulum. Gap junctions are not seen at cochlear synapses but do link supporting cells. The results suggest that inner and outer hair cell synapses have different properties and raise questions about the role of synaptic vesicles and endoplasmic reticulum in the storage and release of transmitters.
本报告描述了被认为是没有突触带或囊泡聚集体的化学突触的感受神经连接。这种突触存在于猫的耳蜗外毛细胞与听神经纤维之间。这些突触由扁平或凹陷的连接形成，在外毛细胞胞质中具有与光滑内质网和被膜小泡相关的对称膜复合体。内毛细胞具有带有不对称膜复合体的感受神经连接；突触带和囊泡聚集在一种连接类型处，而另一种连接类型则与内质网相关。在耳蜗突触处未观察到缝隙连接，但缝隙连接确实连接支持细胞。结果表明，内毛细胞和外毛细胞突触具有不同特性，并引发了关于突触囊泡和内质网在递质储存和释放中的作用的问题。
