Step 1: Understanding the Concept
At a chemical synapse, an impulse is passed on by neurotransmitter such as acetylcholine released from vesicles in the axon terminal.
Step 2: Repeated stimulation
When the presynaptic neuron is stimulated again and again at a high rate, vesicles are emptied faster than new transmitter can be made.
Step 3: Result
When the stock of neurotransmitter is used up, the postsynaptic membrane is not excited and transmission stops for a while until the transmitter is replaced. This is synaptic fatigue.
Final Answer:
Synaptic fatigue is caused by exhaustion of the neurotransmitter.
\[ \boxed{\text{(C) }\text{exhaustion of its neurotransmitter}} \]