> So, the IMI will stay bound to each receptor for a long time but will
bounce off on its own occasionally, and then bind again quickly, according
to a steady-state relationship between the free molecules and the bound
ones in the synapse.

There are also other possibilities, such as the rapid metabolism of
imidacloprid.  If that happens within the synapses,then the IMI would not
"bounce" back.

>In that sense the effect is "reversible", and so it comes down to a) how
long does the active chemical hang around in the tissues, b) how fast does
it diffuse in or out? and c) how long is the exposure?   Have any of these
things has been made clear yet for honey bees?

Some have.  Suchail found that very little ingested IMI ever makes it into
the haemolymph, much less the brain, and that any that does is rapidly
degraded to CO2.  A number of researchers have confirmed that insects
treated at sublethal levels quickly regain function.  Cresswell also
demonstrated such for chronic exposure.

>
> >I really hope this settles the issue as far as what I've been saying
> about neuron synapses and their receptors...


I highly doubt that anything could be considered as "settled'!

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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