Auditory brainstem responses in CBA mice and in mice with deletion of the RAB3A gene

Neurotransmitter secretion is the primary means of intercellular communication within the nervous system. The process of neurotransmitter release involves a complex series of biochemical events that includes regulation of the synaptic vesicle cycle (see Figure 38.1). As defined by Schiavo and Stenbeck (1998), the essential steps of the synaptic vesicle cycle include transport of vesicles to the plasma membrane, followed by their docking, priming, and finally their fusion with the plasma membrane. These events are triggered by calcium entry through specific calcium channels. All of the steps in the synaptic vesicle cycle are regulated by proteins and protein-lipid interactions.