Role of complex release sites in synaptic transmission and plasticity

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Project objective

- To investigate whether the size of spine heads, measured in confocal microscopy, can be used as a reliable predictor for perforated synapses as seen in electron microscopy- To use a variety of approaches to quantal analysis of the connections between a single presynaptic axon and a postsynaptic partner and reconstruct all bouton/spine pairs between the pair by online confocal microscopy.-Using the same approaches to investigate the role of multiple release sites in synaptic plasticity. The approaches involve patch clamp recording and filling of the postsynaptic CA 1 neuron and either paired patch recording of the presynaptic CA3 neuron (~75% connectivity in organotypic slices) or extra cellular stimulation of a presynaptic CA3 axon, labeled with Dil or a viral vector. For single bouton/spine recording local chemical and electrical stimulation will be employed in the presence of TTX. Connections recorded will always be reconstructed with confocal microscopy and, in some cases, also with ectronmicroscopy.For the electron microscopy we have set up a collaboration with the group of Dominique Muller in Geneva who is the top expert in Europe on this type of synaptic reconstruction. As a result of this study we aim to gain knowledge on the physiological significance of perforated synapses, on the question of whether or not multiple release sites can occur within one bouton and on whether these factors are important in synaptic plasticity.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON · LONDONCoordinatorUnited Kingdom

Links

• View on CORDIS