Quantification of synapse turnover in cell culture.
The on and off rates of synaptogenesis can be quantitated using a cell culture system in which embryonic retinal cells form functional synapses with striated muscle cells. Quantification showed that synapse formation and termination can occur simultaneously in culture. Quantification also revealed that some retina-muscle synapses are transient, terminating within 8 h, while other synapses are much more stable. Relatively stable and transient synaptic pairs could be identified prospectively based on the strength of evoked transmission across the retina-muscle synapse.
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D005971:Glutamates; D018698:Glutamic Acid