Saturated Reconstruction of a Volume of Neocortex

Cell. 2015 Jul 30;162(3):648-61. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.06.054.

Abstract

We describe automated technologies to probe the structure of neural tissue at nanometer resolution and use them to generate a saturated reconstruction of a sub-volume of mouse neocortex in which all cellular objects (axons, dendrites, and glia) and many sub-cellular components (synapses, synaptic vesicles, spines, spine apparati, postsynaptic densities, and mitochondria) are rendered and itemized in a database. We explore these data to study physical properties of brain tissue. For example, by tracing the trajectories of all excitatory axons and noting their juxtapositions, both synaptic and non-synaptic, with every dendritic spine we refute the idea that physical proximity is sufficient to predict synaptic connectivity (the so-called Peters' rule). This online minable database provides general access to the intrinsic complexity of the neocortex and enables further data-driven inquiries.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Automation
  • Axons / ultrastructure
  • Dendrites / ultrastructure
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / methods*
  • Microtomy / methods*
  • Neocortex / cytology
  • Neocortex / ultrastructure*
  • Neurons / ultrastructure*
  • Synapses / ultrastructure
  • Synaptic Vesicles / ultrastructure