title: [Assay system for synapse formation between primary cultured neurons].
abstract: Synapse plasticity, in particular, formation of new synapses, plays crucial roles in learning and memory. We have developed a convenient assay system for measuring the number of newly formed synapses between cultured rat cerebrocortical neurons using the multisite fluorometry system of intracellular calcium. We found that cultured neurons exhibited spontaneous oscillatory changes in intracellular calcium levels and that the frequency of the oscillation was strongly correlated with synaptic density. Combined with immunohistochemical studies, this assay system enables us to study the molecular mechanism of synapse formation, in particular, the involvement of ecto-protein kinase. Other applications of the assay system are discussed here.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, Miyazaki, Japan. kawamasa@phoenix.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawahara
authors.forename: Kazuyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muramoto
authors.forename: Midori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato-Negishi
authors.forename: Ritsuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hosoda-Yabe
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuroda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D005470:Fluorometry / Q000379:methods; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D013569:Synapses / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium