Short-term plasticity of small synaptic vesicle (SSV) and large dense-core vesicle (LDCV) exocytosis

Synaptic plasticity results from changes in the strength of synaptic transmission upon repetitive stimulation. The amount of neurotransmitter released from presynaptic terminals can regulate short-term plasticity that lasts for a few minutes. This review focuses on short-term plasticity of small synaptic vesicle (SSV) and large dense-core vesicle (LDCV) exocytosis. Whereas SSVs contain classical neurotransmitters and activate ion channels, LDCVs contain neuropeptides and hormones which primarily activate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Thus, LDCV exocytosis is mainly associated with modulation of synaptic activity and cannot induce synaptic activity by itself. As in SSV exocytosis, repetitive stimulation leads to short-term enhancement of LDCV exocytosis: i.e., activity-dependent potentiation (ADP) which represents potentiation of neurotransmitter release. Short-term plasticity of SSV exocytosis results from Ca²⁺ accumulation, but ADP of LDCV exocytosis does not. Here, we review the signaling mechanisms and differences of short-term plasticity in exocytotic processes of SSV and LDCV.