Diffusional/kinetic analysis of the neurotransmission process at the nerve-muscle junction.

Transmission at the neuromuscular junction is known to comprise the following steps: vesicular release of Ach pulses; transport across the synaptic cleft; partial hydrolysis by Ach-ase; binding to Ach receptors; ion channel opening and closure, and, thereby, alteration of sodium and potassium conductances. Combining these elements, a unified model has been constructed that is effective in describing the relation between neurotransmitter arrival at receptor sites and channel openings, leading to simple relationships for sodium and potassium conduction at the neuromuscular junction. Application of the model to mepc and epp data has been successful.