Calyx of Held nervous system has allowed for direct research within a mammalian model and the large size increases the ease of electrophysiological recording. For these reasons it has been popular in understanding transmitter release. Specifically, the calyx of Held is used because of: Calyx of Held The Calyx of Held is a particularly large synapse in the mammalian auditory central nervous system, so named by Hans Held in his 1893 article "Die centrale Gehörleitung" because of its resemblance to the calyx of a flower. Globular bushy cells in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) send axons to the contralateral medial nucleus of the
Calyx of Held causes an action potential to be triggered on the postsynaptic side – further encouraged by low internal sodium of the principal neurons. In the mature calyx, the AMPA receptors are concentrated on the principal neuron as to localize the transmission for greater action potential probability. Also note, the NMDA-type glutamate receptors contributions decrease after the onset of hearing. The mechanism behind synaptic vesicle endocytosis changes as the calyx becomes more mature. Calmodulin and calcineurin in their active form are required for vesicle endocytosis in an immature calyx; however, in the mature calyx neither calmodulin nor calcineurin are necessary. Rather, the