In vivo detection of optically evoked endogenous opioid peptides reveals anatomically distinct release profiles.

An implantable device based on organic electrochemical transistors is developed for quantitative mapping of neurotransmitter release across multiple brain regions, revealing a cross-talk between the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathways.

Photobleaching and recovery of a fluorescent glutamate sensor enable demonstration of the distinct spatial architectures of spontaneous versus evoked forms of glutamatergic neurotransmission within single synapses.

In a population of mammalian central synapses, spontaneous and evoked neurotransmitter release processes are independently distributed; yet, postsynaptic receptors within a single synapse preferentially receive neurotransmitter from only one mode of release.

Structure–function studies on the synaptic vesicle release protein syntaxin-1 identified structural motifs on the surface of the SNARE complex controlling vesicle priming and spontaneous release unique for synaptic signaling.

The Ca²⁺-dependence of vesicle priming, fusion, and replenishment at cerebellar mossy fiber boutons show a prominent Ca²⁺-dependent priming step, a shallow non-saturating dose-response curve up to 50 µM, and little Ca²⁺-dependence of sustained vesicle replenishment.

Midbrain dopamine neurons use sophisticated secretory machinery to establish specialized sites for action potential-evoked release of dopamine from their cell bodies and dendrites.

SNAP25 disease mutations within the synaptotagmin interface impair vesicle priming and cause uncontrolled spontaneous release due to enhanced SNARE:SNARE interactions, whereas a mutation within the SNARE-bundle increases the fusion energy barrier.

Spontaneous fusion of vesicles at synapses is regulated independently of fusion triggered by action potentials, adding to evidence that the two types of fusion have distinct functions.

GABAergic postsynaptic responses mediated by spontaneous and evoked neurotransmitter release are partially segregated, suggesting they may serve distinct roles in neuronal signaling.