title: Post-embryonic development of rectifying electrical synapses in the crayfish: ultrastructure.
abstract: The post-embryonic development of the rectifying Giant Fibre-Motor Giant (GF-MoG) synapse and the Giant Fibre-Segmental Giant (GF-SG) synapse has been investigated using electron-microscopy. In adults, the MoG and SG neurons make contact with the GFs by sending narrow 'finger-like' processes through the glial and connective tissue sheath surrounding each GF. The junctional region is characterized by closely apposed membranes (approximately 4 nm separation) traversed by regularly spaced connections, and large (60-80 nm) spherical vesicles in the presynaptic fibre. In newly hatched crayfish junctional contact is made over extensive areas of flat membrane apposition, due to the absence of a thick connective sheath around the giant fibres. Initially the junctional region is dominated by contacts which are morphologically indistinguishable from chemical synapses, i.e. 1. The apposed membranes are separated by a cleft of approximately 20-30 nm (an order of magnitude larger than the cleft distance at electrotonic synapses). 2. There is pre- and post-synaptic thickening of the junctional membranes with a dense cytoplasmic material. 3. Small (25-40 nm) pleomorphic vesicles are found on the presynaptic side of the junction, commonly in association with a dense presynaptic bar. Regions of junctional contact displaying the adult electronic-type morphology first appear at approximately one week post-hatching. At this age they are limited in distribution and occupy a central position in the area of contact surrounded by a broad 'chemical-like' annulus. During subsequent development these sites with electrotonic-type morphology grow in relative size, so that the 'chemical-like' sites become compressed towards the edges of the regions of contact. The adult type of morphology, in which the 'chemical-like' regions are vestigial, is achieved approximately two months after hatching.
authors.affiliation: Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leitch
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cobb
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Heitler
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pitman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003400:Astacoidea / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*