LTD Induction Causes Morphological Changes of Presynaptic Boutons and Reduces Their Contacts with Spines
Neuron. 2008-11-01; 60(4): 590-597
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.09.018
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1. Neuron. 2008 Nov 26;60(4):590-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.09.018.
LTD induction causes morphological changes of presynaptic boutons and reduces
their contacts with spines.
Becker N(1), Wierenga CJ, Fonseca R, Bonhoeffer T, Nägerl UV.
Author information:
(1)Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152
München-Martinsried, Germany.
Activity-dependent changes in the synaptic connections of the brain are thought
to be important for learning and memory. Imaging techniques have enabled the
examination of structural rearrangements during activity-dependent processes at
the synapse. While many studies have examined structural changes of dendritic
spines, little is known about structural plasticity of presynaptic boutons. We
therefore examined how axonal boutons are affected during long-term depression
(LTD). We used time lapse two-photon laser scanning microscopy and extracellular
field recordings to monitor simultaneously synaptic morphology and activity for
up to five hours in mouse organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. LTD induction
dramatically increased the turnover of presynaptic boutons, while decreasing the
number of putative synaptic contacts between Schaffer collateral boutons and
spines of CA1 pyramidal cells. Our data indicate a substantial presynaptic
contribution to activity-dependent morphological plasticity and provide
opportunities for studying the molecular mechanisms of the structural remodeling
of synaptic circuits.
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.09.018
PMID: 19038217 [Indexed for MEDLINE]