Perforated synapses and plasticity. A developmental overview.
Against a background of existing models relating perforated synapses to synaptic plasticity, the numerical density and frequency of perforated synapses in rat neocortex have been assessed from 1 d to 22 mo of age using the disector procedure, and changes in their morphology were assessed using 3-D computer reconstructions. The data point toward perforated and nonperforated synapses being separate synaptic populations from early in development, and with perforated synapses playing a part in the maintenance of neuronal postsynaptic density surface area from mid-adulthood onwards. This suggests that they play a crucial role in synaptic plasticity, although its nature may be different from that postulated by most recent workers.
Jones
D G
DG
Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Itarat
W
W
Calverley
R K
RK
D000818:Animals; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure