Postsynaptic Dendritic Spine Structure and Composition

2/26/01


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Postsynaptic Dendritic Spine Structure and Composition

Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Cell

Dendritic Spines

Diversity in Hippocampal Spine Shapes

Hippocampal Spine Diversity

Branched CA1 Spines

Hippocampal Spine Structure

CA1 PSD Areal Dimensions: 0.01 - 0.54 ?m2

Similarity among Purkinje Spine shapes - lollipops

Range in Cerebellar Spine diversity

Cerebellar branched spines

Hippocampal CA1 vs. Cerebellum

Correlation between PSD area and other features of the synapse:

Functions That Have Been Ascribed To Spines

Functions That Have Been Ascribed to Spines

Functions of Dendritic Spines

Do Spines Modulate Charge Transfer from the Synapse?

Percent Reduction in charge transfer for measured spine necks

Percent Reduction in charge transfer when synaptic input is greater

Synapse Associativity

Voltage Amplification (V2)

Presynaptic Axon doesn't mandate spine shape

Or even that there be a spine

However, spines allow more synapses per brain volume

And provide enhanced connectivity between neurons

Synapse Specificity Through Molecular Compartmentalization

Synapse Specificity through Local Protein Synthesis

~50% of all Ca1 Spines have SER

Cerebellar Spine and SER compartments

Polyribosomes in spines If time also see website

Endocytosis in Spines

Spine Summary

Author: Harris