Interactions between asynchronous release and short-term plasticity in the nucleus accumbens slice

Glutamate synapses in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) display asynchronous release in response to trains of stimulation. However, it is unclear what role this asynchronous release plays in synaptic transmission in this nucleus. This process was studied, specifically looking at the interaction between short-term depression and asynchronous release. These results indicate that synchronous and asynchronous release do not compete for a depleted readily releasable pool of vesicles.