What are the 3 different Types of Synaptic Vesicles?

There are 3 types of synaptic vesicles:

(i) small, clear vesicles containing acetylcholine, glycine, GABA or glutamate;

(ii) small, dense-core vesicles containing catecholamines;

(iii) large, dense- core vesicles containing neuropeptides. In general, circular synaptic vesicles contain excitatory neurotransmitters while flat or elongated vesicles contain inhibitory neurotransmitters.

Exceptions to the above rule include the neuropeptides and neurosecretory granules that are definitely produced in the cell body. In neurons that use biogenic amines as transmitters, large dense-cored vesicles can be seen in the cell body and traveling along the axon.