Modifications to synaptic transmission at group Ia synapses on cat spinal motoneurones by 4-aminopyridine.

1. The average amplitude of e.p.s.p.s evoked in cat spinal motoneurones by impulses in single group Ia afferents usually increased following the intravenous injection of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Most of this increase occurred over the first 30 min following injection of 4-AP. 2. The increase in the average amplitude following 4-AP occurred by a reduction in the probability of occurrence of component e.p.s.p.s with smaller peak amplitudes, and an increase in the probability of occurrence of component e.p.s.p.s with larger peak amplitudes. There was no evidence that the discrete amplitudes of components after 4-AP were a result of graded increases of the discrete amplitudes before 4-AP. 3. The interpretation suggested for these results is that each component e.p.s.p. is generated by transmission at a different combination of boutons. At each of these boutons sufficient transmitter is released to saturate all available receptors. The effect of 4-AP is to decrease the probability of failure to release transmitter at each bouton, including some boutons which, before 4-AP, did not release transmitter.