Synapse Ultrastructure
Synapse Ultrastructure - Related Videos
02:47
The Synapse
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2019
Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information. An electrical synapse is one type of synapse in which the pre-...
18:11
Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number
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Cited by 253 •
2010
This protocol details how to quantify synapse number both in dissociated neuronal culture and in brain sections using immunocytochemistry. Using compartment-specific antibodies, we label presynaptic terminals as well as sites of postsynaptic specialization. We define synapses as points of colocalization between the signals generated by these markers.
11:53
Ultrastructural Localization of Endogenous LC3 by On-Section Correlative Light-Electron Microscopy
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Cited by 6 •
2023
Here, we present a protocol for optimized on-section correlative light-electron microscopy based on endogenous, fluorescent labeling as a tool to investigate the localization of rare proteins in relation to cellular ultrastructure. The power of this approach is demonstrated by ultrastructural localization of endogenous LC3 in starved cells without Bafilomycin treatment.
02:53
Ultrastructural Analysis of a Mouse Brain Section Using Transmission Electron Microscopy
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2025
Source: Lutz, D., et.al. Assessment of Ultrastructural Neuroplasticity Parameters After In Utero Transduction of the Developing Mouse Brain and Spinal Cord. J. Vis. Exp. (2019).This video demonstrates the preparation and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of a brain section from a mouse pup. The protocol starts with osmium tetroxide-fixed tissue embedded in resin, followed by precise trimming to isolate the region of interest and ultramicrotomy to produce semithin and ultrathin...
04:08
Planarian Ovary Dissection for Ultrastructural Analysis and Antibody Staining
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Cited by 1 •
2021
This protocol presents steps taken to dissect ovaries in the freshwater planarians, Schmidtea mediterranea. The dissected ovaries are compatible for antibody immunostaining and ultrastructural analysis with transmission electron microscopy to study the cell biology of the oocytes and somatic cells, providing an imaging depth and quality that were previously inaccessible.
FAQs
Calcium entry at the presynaptic active zone triggers synaptic vesicle fusion, linking the terminal’s nanoscale organization to neurotransmitter release. The location of this calcium-dependent event is important because it occurs where vesicles and release machinery are organized. Examining the active zone therefore helps researchers connect presynaptic structure with the strength and effectiveness of synaptic signaling.
The narrow synaptic cleft separates the releasing presynaptic terminal from the postsynaptic membrane, defining the structural space across which neurotransmitter travels. A dense protein-rich region on the postsynaptic side provides a visible marker of specialized molecular organization. Together, these features help distinguish the receiving side of a chemical synapse and relate its architecture to signaling.
The arrangement of synaptic vesicles, active zones, the cleft, and the postsynaptic membrane provides the structural basis for transmission. Because these compartments are organized at nanoscale resolution, their morphology can be compared with transmission strength and synaptic plasticity, meaning activity-related changes in synaptic function. This relationship allows structure to be studied as an indicator of functional adaptation.
Electron microscopy reveals the fine organization of chemical synapses at nanoscale resolution. Researchers inspect presynaptic terminals for synaptic vesicles and active zones, measure or assess the narrow cleft, and identify the dense region associated with the postsynaptic membrane. These observations provide structural information that can be related to neurotransmission, development, plasticity, or disease-associated changes.
Researchers examine synapse ultrastructure when they need to relate neuronal structure to communication or its alteration over time. Applications include studying how synapses develop, how they adapt to activity, and how their organization changes in association with neurological disease. The approach is useful when functional questions require direct examination of the presynaptic and postsynaptic compartments.
Analysis can show whether synaptic organization is associated with differences in transmission strength, plasticity, or neuronal development. It can also identify structural changes linked with neurological disease and reveal how synapses adapt to activity. The resulting observations do not merely describe appearance; they help researchers evaluate relationships between morphology and the processes that support neuronal communication.