Dendritic spine geometry is critical for AMPA receptor expression in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons

Nat Neurosci. 2001 Nov;4(11):1086-92. doi: 10.1038/nn736.

Abstract

Dendritic spines serve as preferential sites of excitatory synaptic connections and are pleomorphic. To address the structure-function relationship of the dendritic spines, we used two-photon uncaging of glutamate to allow mapping of functional glutamate receptors at the level of the single synapse. Our analyses of the spines of CA1 pyramidal neurons reveal that AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid)-type glutamate receptors are abundant (up to 150/spine) in mushroom spines but sparsely distributed in thin spines and filopodia. The latter may be serving as the structural substrates of the silent synapses that have been proposed to play roles in development and plasticity of synaptic transmission. Our data indicate that distribution of functional AMPA receptors is tightly correlated with spine geometry and that receptor activity is independently regulated at the level of single spines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Surface Extensions / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendrites / metabolism*
  • Electrophysiology
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / physiology
  • Glutamates / chemistry
  • Glutamates / metabolism*
  • Glutamic Acid / chemistry
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism*
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / metabolism*
  • Mathematics
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Photolysis
  • Pyramidal Cells / cytology
  • Pyramidal Cells / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, AMPA / genetics
  • Receptors, AMPA / metabolism*

Substances

  • 4-methoxy-7-nitroindolinyl-glutamate
  • Glutamates
  • Indoles
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • Glutamic Acid