Visualization of quantal synaptic transmission by dendritic calcium imaging.
As changes in synaptic strength are thought to be critical for learning and memory, it would be useful to monitor the activity of individual identified synapses on mammalian central neurons. Calcium imaging of cortical neurons grown in primary culture was used to visualize the activation of individual postsynaptic elements by miniature excitatory synaptic currents elicited by spontaneous quantal release. This approach revealed that the probability of spontaneous activity differed among synapses on the same dendrite. Furthermore, synapses that undergo changes in activity induced by glutamate or phorbol ester treatment were identified.
Murphy
T H
TH
Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Baraban
J M
JM
Wier
W G
WG
Blatter
L A
LA
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007700:Kinetics; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
D005971:Glutamates; D010703:Phorbol Esters; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; C008874:phorbol-12,13-diacetate; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D002118:Calcium