Dendrites are more spiny on mature hippocampal neurons when synapses are inactivated
Nature NeurosciencePublished 1 October 1999
Sergei A. Kirov, Kristen M. Harris
Citations191
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score11.20
SNIP4.70
Generate an AI Snapshot to get a quick, structured summary of this paper.
Study Snapshot
ObjectiveStudy objective
MethodsResearch methodology
PopulationPopulation studied
Sample sizeSample sizes
OutcomesStudy outcomes here
ResultsStudy results comes here
LimitationsResearch study limitations comes here
A concise AI-generated summary of the paper will appear here once you click Generate AI Snapshot.
TL;DR
In slices with blocked synaptic transmission, dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurons in mature rat hippocampal slices were spinier than in either of the activated states, suggesting that mature neurons can increase their numbers of spines, possibly compensating for lost synaptic activity.
Abstract
Dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurons in mature rat hippocampal slices were exposed to different levels of synaptic activation. In some slices, synaptic transmission was blocked with glutamate receptor antagonists, sodium and calcium channel blockers and/or a nominally calcium-free medium with high magnesium. In other slices, synapses were activated with low-frequency control stimulation or repeated tetanic stimulation. In slices with blocked synaptic transmission, dendrites were spinier than in either of the activated states. Thus, mature neurons can increase their numbers of spines, possibly compensating for lost synaptic activity.
Keywords
Neuroscience
NatureActivity-dependent scaling of quantal amplitude in neocortical neurons
2,305 Citations1998Gina G. Turrigiano, Kenneth R. Leslie +3 more
A new form of synaptic plasticity is described that increases or decreases the strength of all of a neuron's synaptic inputs as a function of activity, and may help to ensure that firing rates do not become saturated during developmental changes in the number and strength of synaptic inputs.
The Journal of PhysiologyThe action of calcium on the electrical properties of squid axons
1,839 Citations1957B. Frankenhaeuser, A. L. Hodgkin
NatureDendritic spine changes associated with hippocampal long-term synaptic plasticity
1,707 Citations1999Florian Engert, Tobias Bonhoeffer
After induction of long-lasting (but not short-lasting) functional enhancement of synapses in area CA1, new spines appear on the postsynaptic dendrite, whereas in control regions on the same dendrites or in slices where long-term potentiation was blocked, no significant spine growth occurred.
Journal of NeuroscienceGonadal steroids regulate dendritic spine density in hippocampal pyramidal cells in adulthood
1,369 Citations1990Elizabeth Gould, Catherine S. Woolley +2 more
It is demonstrated that gonadal steroids are necessary for the maintenance of normal adult CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cell structure and implies that CA1 pyramsidal cell dendritic spine density may fluctuate during the normal rat estrous cycle.
ScienceRapid Spine Delivery and Redistribution of AMPA Receptors After Synaptic NMDA Receptor Activation
1,268 Citations1999Song‐Hai Shi, Yasunori Hayashi +5 more
Tetanic synaptic stimulation induced a rapid delivery of tagged receptors into dendritic spines as well as clusters in dendrites and may contribute to the enhanced AMPA receptor-mediated transmission observed during long-term potentiation and activity-dependent synaptic maturation.
ScienceRapid Dendritic Morphogenesis in CA1 Hippocampal Dendrites Induced by Synaptic Activity
1,177 Citations1999Mirjana Maletić‐Savatić, Roberto Malinow +1 more
High-frequency focal synaptic stimulation induced a period of enhanced growth of small filopodia-like protrusions in dendritic regions close to the stimulating electrode and was prevented by blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.
Journal of NeuroscienceNaturally occurring fluctuation in dendritic spine density on adult hippocampal pyramidal neurons
1,110 Citations1990Catherine S. Woolley, Elizabeth Gould +2 more
These results demonstrate rapid and ongoing dendritic plasticity in a specific population of hippocampal neurons in experimentally unmanipulated animals.
PubMedThree-dimensional structure of dendritic spines and synapses in rat hippocampus (CA1) at postnatal day 15 and adult ages: implications for the maturation of synaptic physiology and long-term potentiation.
1,100 Citations1992Kristen M. Harris, Francis E. Jensen +1 more
Journal of NeuroscienceThree-dimensional structure of dendritic spines and synapses in rat hippocampus (CA1) at postnatal day 15 and adult ages: implications for the maturation of synaptic physiology and long-term potentiation [published erratum appears in J Neurosci 1992 Aug;12(8):following table of contents]
1,008 Citations1992Kristen M. Harris, Jensen Fe +1 more
The results demonstrate that the new series sample method combined with three- dimensional reconstruction reveals quantitative changes in the frequency and structure of spines and synapses that are not discernable by other methods and are likely to have dramatic effects on synaptic physiology and plasticity.
Annual Review of NeuroscienceDendritic Spines: Cellular Specializations Imparting Both Stability and Flexibility to Synaptic Function
995 Citations1994Kristen M. Harris, Stanley B. Kater
The recent conjunction of high quality information about the structure, function, and theoretical implications of dendritic spines has produced a flurry of new insights into the location and function of these tiny protrusions in the CNS.
NeuronRapid Actin-Based Plasticity in Dendritic Spines
913 Citations1998Maria Fischer, Stefanie Kaech +2 more
Video recordings from hippocampal neurons expressing actin tagged with GFP-actin revealed large actin-dependent changes in dendritic spine shape, similar to those inferred from previous studies using fixed tissues, suggesting that anatomical plasticity at synapses can be extremely rapid.
Annual Review of PhysiologyStructural Changes Accompanying Memory Storage
857 Citations1993Craig H. Bailey, Eric R. Kandel
The recent evidence for structural changes in learning is considered by considering the structural changes that accompany long-term memory and how they compare with the de novo synapse formation and synaptic pruning that occur during development.
NeuronCell Type and Pathway Dependence of Synaptic AMPA Receptor Number and Variability in the Hippocampus
807 Citations1998Zoltán Nusser, Rafael Luján +4 more
The number and variability of synaptic AMPA receptors in the rat hippocampus are determined using quantitative immunogold localization and it is estimated that the AMPA receptor content of C/A synapses on CA3 pyramidal spines ranges from <3 to 140.
Journal of NeuroscienceSynaptogenesis Via Dendritic Filopodia in Developing Hippocampal Area CA1
757 Citations1998John C. Fiala, Marcia Feinberg +2 more
The concurrence of primarily shaft and filopodial synapses in the first postnatal week suggests that Filopodia recruit shaft synapses that later give rise to spines through a process of outgrowth.
Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesAn increase in dendritic spine density on hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells following spatial learning in adult rats suggests the formation of new synapses.
614 Citations1994May‐Britt Moser, Mari Trommald +1 more
By using laser-scanning confocal microscopy, a significantly increased spine density is observed in CA1 basal dendrites of spatially trained rats when compared to nontrained controls, reflecting an increased number of excitatory synapses per neuron associated with spatial learning.
Journal of NeuroscienceThe Dynamics of Dendritic Structure in Developing Hippocampal Slices
612 Citations1996Michael E. Dailey, Stephen J Smith
Time-lapse fluorescence confocal microscopy was used to directly visualize the formation and dynamics of postsynaptic target structures (i.e., dendritic branches and spines) on pyramidal neurons within developing hippocampal tissue slices, revealing a highly dynamic state of post synapse target structures that may actively contribute to the formation of synaptic connections during CNS development.
Annual Review of PhysiologyPhosphoinositides and Calcium as Regulators of Cellular Actin Assembly and Disassembly
522 Citations1994Paul A. Janmey
Cell locomotion and changes in cell structure initiated by the binding of extracellular ligands to transmembrane receptors are generally accompanied by a transient increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+], and by the synthesis and hydrolysis of phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol lipids, or polyphosphoinositides (PPls).
Nature NeuroscienceMiniature synaptic events maintain dendritic spines via AMPA receptor activation
522 Citations1999R. Anne McKinney, Marco Capogna +3 more
It is concluded that AMPA receptor activation by spontaneous vesicular glutamate release is sufficient to maintain dendritic spines and exerts a trophic effect on spines by acting at AMPA receptors.
Current Opinion in NeurobiologyStructure, development, and plasticity of dendritic spines
517 Citations1999Kristen M. Harris
Dendritic spines are distinguished by their shapes, subcellular composition, and synaptic receptor subtypes and can form without synaptic activation, are maintained by optimal activation, and are lost with excessive activation or during degeneration.
NeuronNeurotrophin Regulation of Cortical Dendritic Growth Requires Activity
504 Citations1996A. Kimberley McAllister, Lawrence C Katz +1 more
In ferret cortical brain slices, the interactions between activity and neurotrophins in regulating dendritic growth of layer 4 pyramidal neurons were examined, finding that inhibition of spontaneous electrical activity, synaptic transmission, or L-type calcium channels each prevented the otherwise dramatic increase in dendrite arborizations elicited by brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
Nature NeuroscienceSelective acquisition of AMPA receptors over postnatal development suggests a molecular basis for silent synapses
494 Citations1999Ronald S. Petralia, José A. Esteban +5 more
Single excitatory synapses with NMDA receptors but no AMPA receptors can account for the electrophysiologically observed 'silent synapse', according to immunogold electron–microscopic analysis of AMPA andNMDA receptors along with Electrophysiological measurements.
Journal of NeuroscienceRegulation of F-Actin Stability in Dendritic Spines by Glutamate Receptors and Calcineurin
418 Citations1998Shelley Halpain, Arlene Hipolito +1 more
The results indicate that the actin-mediated stability of synaptic structure is disrupted by intense glutamate receptor activity and that calcineurin blockers may be useful in preventing such destabilization.
ScienceSynchronous Neural Afterdischarges in Rat Hippocampal Slices Without Active Chemical Synapses
347 Citations1982Charles P. Taylor, F. Edward Dudek
Measurements of transmembrane potential indicate that transient extracellular electrical fields (ephaptic interactions) contribute to the observed synchrony; electrotonic coupling and changes in the concentration ofextracellular ions may also contribute.
Journal of NeuroscienceMorphological analysis of dendritic spine development in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons
332 Citations1995Michèle Papa, MC Bundman +2 more
Monitoring developmental alterations in the morphology of dendritic spines in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons using confocal laser scanning microscopy and the fluorescent marker Dil provides the basis for further analysis of the rules governing the formation, development, and plasticity of dendedritic spine under controlled, in vitro conditions.
Journal of NeuroscienceSlices Have More Synapses than Perfusion-Fixed Hippocampus from both Young and Mature Rats
293 Citations1999Sergei A. Kirov, Karin E. Sorra +1 more
It is suggested that spines form in response to the loss of synaptic activity when slices are removed from the rest of the brain and during the subsequent 1 hr recovery period, which is the longest time investigated.
Trends in NeurosciencesThe anatomy of a memory: convergence of results across a diversity of tests
272 Citations1988William T. Greenough, Craig H. Bailey
Although several aspects of synaptic structure appear to change with experience, the most consistent potential substrate for memory storage during behavioral modification is an alteration in the number and/or pattern of synaptic connections.
The Journal of PhysiologyLow‐calcium field burst discharges of CA1 pyramidal neurones in rat hippocampal slices.
262 Citations1984H. L. Haas, John G. R. Jefferys
It is proposed that the increased firing of all neurones is due to the block of tonic inhibition, depression of after‐hyperpolarization and to increased membrane excitability, which is enhanced by various treatments expected to increase neuronal excitability.
Journal of NeuroscienceSpine Loss and Other Persistent Alterations of Hippocampal Pyramidal Cell Dendrites in a Model of Early-Onset Epilepsy
207 Citations1998Minghui Jiang, Chong L. Lee +2 more
Axonal arbors of CA3C pyramidal cells exhibited normal branching patterns, branching complexity, and varicosity density, which suggests that if deafferentation occurs, synapses other than recurrent excitatory ones are lost.
Journal of NeuroscienceStability in Synapse Number and Size at 2 Hr after Long-Term Potentiation in Hippocampal Area CA1
182 Citations1998Karin E. Sorra, Kristen M. Harris
It is suggested that LTP does not cause an overall formation of new synapses nor an enlargement of synapses at 2 hr post-tetanus in hippocampal area CA1, and the hypothesis that L TP could involve a redistribution of synaptic weights among existing synapses is supported.
Journal of NeuroscienceComparison of Hippocampal Dendritic Spines in Culture and in Brain
146 Citations1998Christopher Boyer, Thomas Schikorski +1 more
The hippocampal spine structure is quantified at the light and ultrastructural levels in cell cultures ∼1- 3 weeks old and in the brains of rodents 5 and 21 d old.
NeuronPostsynaptically Silent Synapses in Single Neuron Cultures
140 Citations1998Stephen N. Gomperts, Anuradha Rao +3 more
Investigation of the synapses that isolated hippocampal cells in culture form onto themselves (autapses) to determine if some synapses lack functional AMPA receptors (AMPARs) indicates that a population of events exists that only contains an NMDAR component.
Journal of NeuroscienceAfferent Innervation Influences the Development of Dendritic Branches and Spines via Both Activity-Dependent and Non-Activity-Dependent Mechanisms
137 Citations1997Albrecht Kossel, Cheri V. Williams +2 more
It is demonstrated that afferents can have a prominent influence on the development of postsynaptic target cells via both activity-dependent and non-activity-dependent mechanisms, indicating the presence of multiple signals.
Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesReversible loss of dendritic spines and altered excitability after chronic epilepsy in hippocampal slice cultures.
136 Citations1993Marc Müller, B.H. Gähwiler +2 more
The pathological changes induced by convulsants are similar to those found in the hippocampi of human epileptics, suggesting that they are a consequence, rather than a cause, of epilepsy.
Brain ResearchLateralized effects of monocular training on dendritic branching in adult split-brain rats
135 Citations1982Fen-Lei F. Chang, William T. Greenough
In unilaterally-occluded trained rats, Layer V pyramidal neurons in occipital cortex opposite the open eye had greater oblique dendritic length in the distal region of the apical dendrite than did those opposite the occluded eye.
Brain Research ReviewsActin in the nervous system
129 Citations1985Alessandra Eva
Various types of stimulation which change the level of free cytosolic calcium may induce contraction of the spine actin network which may be responsible for the morphometric changes observed following different experimental interventions and pathological conditions.
NeuroscienceMorphological plasticity in dendritic spines of cultured hippocampal neurons
127 Citations1996Michèle Papa, Menahem Segal
The results indicate that dendritic spines in cultured neurons depend on ongoing synaptic activity to maintain their shape, and that neurons respond to an increase in synaptic demand by a increase in spine density.
Journal of NeurophysiologyDendritic Spine Density and LTP Induction in Cultured Hippocampal Slices
124 Citations1997Carlos Collin, Katsuyuki Miyaguchi +1 more
It is proposed that LTP and dendritic spine density are correlated strongly during development, whereas they are not correlated in the more mature slice/culture of the hippocampus where spine density can be modulated by chronic exposure to blockers of synaptic activity, which will not affect LTP in a similar manner.
Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesControl of spine formation by electrical activity in the adult rat cerebellum
122 Citations1999Monica Bravin, Laura Morando +3 more
Purkinje cells provide a model where spines in different compartments of the same neuron are differently regulated by the activity of their local afferents, and supports the view that spinogenesis is the expression of an intrinsic program and the two regions of the dendritic tree respond differently to activity block because of differences in the inputs that they receive.
The Journal of Comparative NeurologyAnalysis of dendritic spines in rat CA1 pyramidal cells intracellularly filled with a fluorescent dye
107 Citations1995Mart Trommald, Vidar R. Jensen +1 more
The dendritic branching pattern and the distribution of dendrite spines were studied in hippocampal neurones with an improved technique using a laser‐scanning confocal microscope.
Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesRapid acquisition of dendritic spines by visual thalamic neurons after blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.
100 Citations1995Mariana C. Rocha, Mriganka Sur
Activity-dependent structural changes in postsynaptic cells act together with changes in presynaptic arbors to shape projection patterns and specific retinogeniculate connections in the mammalian lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN).
Journal of Neuroscience MethodsPreservation of neuronal ultrastructure in hippocampal slices using rapid microwave-enhanced fixation
96 Citations1989Francis E. Jensen, Kristen M. Harris
It is demonstrated that perfusion quality preservation of in vitro hippocampal slices can be achieved within seconds after removal from the incubation chamber by using microwave (MW)-enhanced immersion in mixed aldehydes.
Journal of NeuroscienceIndependent control of dendritic and axonal form in the developing lateral geniculate nucleus
84 Citations1994Matthew B. Dalva, Ankita Ghosh +1 more
The results suggest that the basic dendritic framework of LGN neurons can be achieved even in the absence of this form of neural activity, since the intracranial TTX infusions have almost certainly blocked all sodium action potentials.
NeuroscienceSpine loss in experimental epilepsy: Quantitative light and electron microscopic analysis of intracellularly stained CA3 pyramidal cells in hippocampal slice cultures
75 Citations1996Alexander Drakew, Michael Mu ̈ller +3 more
It is concluded that epileptic activity causes morphological alterations in defined postsynaptic compartments of hippocampal pyramidal cells surviving under these conditions.
Neuroscience LettersMorphological alterations in dendritic spines of rat hippocampal neurons exposed to N-methyl-d-aspartate
65 Citations1995Menahem Segal
C cultured rat hippocampal neurons grown on glass coverslips were loaded with lucifer yellow and segments of their dendrites, containing dendritic spines, were exposed to the glutamate agonist N-methyl-D-aspartate.
PubMedStructural substrates of epilepsy.
45 Citations1986Paul La, Scheibel Ab
Rodents have been among the best-researched genetic preparations, and several such reports appear in this volume, and it is found that the Mongolian gerbil had fewer dendritic spines than its nonseizuring counterpart.
Journal of Neuroscience MethodsQuantification of dendritic spine populations using image analysis and a tilting disector
35 Citations1995Dmitri A. Rusakov, Michael G. Stewart
A series of image analysis routines, stochastic geometry methodology, and a design-based stereological procedure have been developed to quantify objectively the length, layout, and the true density of neuronal dendritic spines observed at the light (or confocal) microscope level.
Journal of NeurobiologyActivity‐dependent regulation of dendritic spine density on cortical pyramidal neurons in organotypic slice cultures
34 Citations1994Casey M. Annis, Diane K. O’Dowd +1 more
It is demonstrated that the density of spines on layers V and VI pyramidal neurons can be modulated by growth conditions that alter the levels of spontaneous electrical activity.