Growth of dendritic spines: a continuing story.
Dendritic spines, which are present at the vast majority of excitatory synapses in the central nervous system, have a specialized cytoskeleton of dynamic actin filaments that makes them capable of rapid morphological plasticity. During development, structural remodeling of nascent spines is an important factor in experience-dependent shaping of neuronal circuits, whereas in the adult brain spines maintain a balance between morphological stability and plasticity.
Matus
Andrew
A
Friedrich Miescher Institute, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland. aim@fmi.ch
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*