title: NCAM180 and glutamate receptor subtypes in potentiated spine synapses: an immunogold electron microscopic study.
abstract: Activity-dependent changes in expression and localization of the largest major isoform of the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM180 and three subtypes of glutamate receptors predominantly expressed in the outer part of the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus of adult rats-the NMDA receptor NR2A, the AMPA receptor GluR2/3, and the metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR1 - were investigated using postembedding immunogold labeling, and electron microscopy. In synaptic membranes of nonstimulated spine synapses, NCAM180 and NR2A accumulated in the center of the postsynaptic density, whereas GluR2/3 and mGluR1 were distributed evenly. Twenty-four hours following induction of long-term potentiation in vivo, NCAM180 and NR2A accumulated at the edges of postsynaptic densities, whereas GluR2/3 was localized more centrally. Also, the distribution of gold particles per synapse significantly changed for NCAM180, NR2A, and mGluR1. Thus, changes in synaptic strength are associated with concomitant changes in the expression and distribution of NCAM180 and glutamate receptors, particularly of the NR2A subtype.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universität Hamburg, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fux
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krug
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dityatev
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schachner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron / Q000379:methods*; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D013569:Synapses / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: C120997:NR2A NMDA receptor; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; C104723:glutamate receptor ionotropic, AMPA 3; C104077:metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1; C104722:glutamate receptor ionotropic, AMPA 2