Rapid Functional Maturation of Nascent Dendritic Spines

Zito, K., Scheuss, V., Knott, G., Hill, T., Svoboda, K. (January 2009) Rapid Functional Maturation of Nascent Dendritic Spines. Neuron, 61 (2). pp. 247-258.

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19186167
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.10.054

Abstract

Summary Spine growth and retraction with synapse formation and elimination plays an important role in shaping brain circuits during development and in the adult brain, yet the temporal relationship between spine morphogenesis and the formation of functional synapses remains poorly defined. We imaged hippocampal pyramidal neurons to identify spines of different ages. We then used two-photon glutamate uncaging, whole-cell recording, and Ca2+ imaging to analyze the properties of nascent spines and their older neighbors. New spines expressed glutamate-sensitive currents that were indistinguishable from mature spines of comparable volumes. Some spines exhibited negligible AMPA receptor-mediated responses, but the occurrence of these "silent" spines was uncorrelated with spine age. In contrast, NMDA receptor-mediated Ca2+ accumulations were significantly lower in new spines. New spines reconstructed using electron microscopy made synapses. Our data support a model in which outgrowth and enlargement of nascent spines is tightly coupled to formation and maturation of glutamatergic synapses.

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > dendritic cells > dendritic spines
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > dendritic cells > dendritic spines
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > dendritic cells > dendritic spines
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Svoboda lab
Depositing User: Matt Covey
Date: 29 January 2009
Date Deposited: 20 Feb 2013 15:08
Last Modified: 20 Feb 2013 15:08
PMCID: PMC2800307
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/27436

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