Electric Circuit Equivalent to a Synaptic Vesicle

• Main Authors: Xaira Cortés, Ramón Fayad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad Nacional de Colombia 2003-01-01
• Series: Acta Biológica Colombiana
• Subjects: Vesícula Sináptica; Circuito Eléctrico Equivalente; Exocitosis
• Online Access: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/actabiol/article/view/26109

In the present work an electrical model of the synaptic vesicle is developed. The vesicleis considered as a spheroidal organelle without neurotransmitters in its inner space. Inaddition, its lumen, its membrane and the neuronal cytoplasm behave like linear,homogenous and isotropic media characterized by specific conductivities and permi-tivities. The theoretical approach considers the application of an electric field (varying intime at low frequencies) on this vesicle. A transmembrane potential difference is inducedand its characterization is obtained from Maxwell's equations subject to appropriateboundary conditions, in the so-called quasi-stationary approach. By applying theLaplace Transform to the resulting equations, the TRANSFER FUNCTION is obtained.In this way, we were able to synthesize an RLC circuit equivalent of the vesicle understudy. The model predicts capacitance values for individual spherical vesicles, whichcontrasted with those reported in the existing literature from previous experimentalprocesses, encourages the continuity of this theoretical approach.