Regulation of spine morphology and spine density by NMDA receptor signaling in vivo.
Dendritic spines are the major sites of excitatory synaptic transmission in the CNS, and their size and density influence the functioning of neuronal circuits. Here we report that NMDA receptor signaling plays a critical role in regulating spine size and density in the developing cortex. Genetic deletion of the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor in the cortex leads to a decrease in spine density and an increase in spine head size in cortical layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons. This process is accompanied by an increase in the presynaptic axon bouton volume and the postsynaptic density area, as well as an increase in the miniature excitatory postsynaptic current amplitude and frequency. These observations indicate that NMDA receptors regulate synapse structure and function in the developing cortex.
Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, and National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, Center for Research in Biological Systems, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Sila K
SK
Ultanir
Ji-Eun
JE
Kim
Benjamin J
BJ
Hall
Thomas
T
Deerinck
Mark
M
Ellisman
Anirvan
A
Ghosh
D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
C409466:NR1 NMDA receptor; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate