Synaptic vesicles: selective depletion in crayfish excitatory and inhibitory axons.

Stimulation of the excitatory axon of the opener muscle of the crayfish in the presence of the metabolic inhibitor 2,4-dinitrophenol leads to depletion of synaptic vesicles in nerve terminals containing round vesicles. Stimulation of the inhibitory axon under these conditions produces depletion of vesicles in other nerve terminals containing more elongate synaptic vesicles. The experiments show that terminals with round synaptic vesicles are excitatory and that terminals with elongate synaptic vesicles are inhibitory. Replenishment of synaptic vesicles appears to require metabolic energy.