Automated 4D analysis of dendritic spine morphology: applications to stimulus-induced spine remodeling and pharmacological rescue in a disease model

Mol Brain. 2011 Oct 7:4:38. doi: 10.1186/1756-6606-4-38.

Abstract

Uncovering the mechanisms that regulate dendritic spine morphology has been limited, in part, by the lack of efficient and unbiased methods for analyzing spines. Here, we describe an automated 3D spine morphometry method and its application to spine remodeling in live neurons and spine abnormalities in a disease model. We anticipate that this approach will advance studies of synapse structure and function in brain development, plasticity, and disease.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Automation*
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / pharmacology
  • Chromones / pharmacology*
  • Dendritic Spines / drug effects*
  • Dendritic Spines / enzymology
  • Dendritic Spines / metabolism*
  • Dendritic Spines / ultrastructure
  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Morpholines / pharmacology*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Synapses / drug effects
  • Synapses / metabolism

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Chromones
  • Fmr1 protein, mouse
  • Morpholines
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein
  • 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one