PUBLICATION

In vivo imaging of synapse formation on a growing dendritic arbor

Authors
Niell, C.M., Meyer, M.P., and Smith, S.J.
ID
ZDB-PUB-040216-22
Date
2004
Source
Nature Neuroscience   7(3): 254-260 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Meyer, Martin
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Communication/physiology
  • Cell Differentiation/physiology*
  • Dendrites/metabolism*
  • Dendrites/ultrastructure
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism
  • Pseudopodia/metabolism
  • Pseudopodia/ultrastructure
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Superior Colliculi/cytology
  • Superior Colliculi/embryology*
  • Superior Colliculi/metabolism
  • Synapses/metabolism*
  • Synapses/ultrastructure
  • Synaptic Membranes/metabolism
  • Visual Pathways/cytology
  • Visual Pathways/embryology
  • Visual Pathways/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
PubMed
14758365 Full text @ Nat. Neurosci.
Abstract
The form of a neuron's dendritic arbor determines the set of axons with which it may form synaptic contacts, thus establishing connectivity within neural circuits. However, the dynamic relationship between dendrite growth and synaptogenesis is not well understood. To observe both processes simultaneously, we performed long-term imaging of non-spiny dendritic arbors expressing a fluorescent postsynaptic marker protein as they arborized within the optic tectum of live zebrafish larvae. Our results indicate that almost all synapses form initially on newly extended dendritic filopodia. A fraction of these nascent synapses are maintained, which in turn stabilizes the subset of filopodia on which they form. Stabilized filopodia mature into dendritic branches, and successive iterations of this process result in growth and branching of the arbor. These findings support a 'synaptotropic model' in which synapse formation can direct dendrite arborization.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping