In the striatum, acetylcholine modulates glutamate release via muscarinic receptors. The authors examine individual synapses in rat striatum and find that glutamatergic afferents show multivesicular release and low postsynpatic receptor saturation. Acetylcholine decreases both the probability of release and the amount of glutamate in the cleft, thereby suppressing the activation of nonlinearities in dendrites.
- Michael J Higley
- Gilberto J Soler-Llavina
- Bernardo L Sabatini