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 inXenopus cell culture. The rate of EPC/MEPC is related with synapses maturation. Accordingly, we define the mature synapses as those whose rate of presynaptic membrane ’ s EPC to MEPC is more than 8. The process of maturation needs about 2–5 h after neuntes contact with myoballs. We divide the development of synapses into three stages: young, developing and mature. The neurotransmitters stack gradually and increase by hundreds of times along with young synapses growing into maturity. So the process of synapses maturation should include presynaptic membrane specialization, postsynaptic membrane specialization and neurotransmitters stack.