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The Journal of Neuroscience, September 26, 2007, 27(39):10434-10444; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1946-07.2007

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Development/Plasticity/Repair
Structural Determinants of Transmission at Large Hippocampal Mossy Fiber Synapses

Astrid Rollenhagen,^1,4 * Kurt Sätzler,^2 * E. Patricia Rodríguez,² Peter Jonas,³ Michael Frotscher,⁴ and Joachim H. R. Lübke^1,4

¹Institute of Neuroscience and Biophysics INB-3, Research Centre Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany, ²School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry BT52 1SA, United Kingdom, and Institutes of ³Physiology and ⁴Anatomy and Cell Biology, Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany

Correspondence should be addressed to Joachim H. R. Lübke, Institute of Neuroscience and Biophysics, INB-3, Research Centre Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany. Email: j.luebke{at}fz-juelich.de

Synapses are the key elements for signal processing and plasticity in the brain. To determine the structural factors underlying the unique functional properties of the hippocampal mossy fiber synapse, the complete quantitative geometry was investigated, using electron microscopy of serial ultrathin sections followed by computer-assisted three-dimensional reconstruction. In particular, parameters relevant for transmitter release and synaptic plasticity were examined. Two membrane specializations were found: active zones (AZs), transmitter release sites, and puncta adherentia, putative adhesion complexes. Individual boutons had, on average, 25 AZs (range, 7–45) that varied in shape and size (mean, 0.1 µm²; range, 0.07–0.17 µm²). The mean distance between individual AZs was 0.45 µm. Mossy fiber boutons and their target structures were mostly ensheathed by astrocytes, but fine glial processes never reached the active zones. Two structural factors are likely to promote synaptic cross talk: the short distance between AZs and the absence of fine glial processes at AZs. Thus, synaptic cross talk may contribute to the efficacy of hippocampal mossy fiber synapses. On average, a bouton contained 20,400 synaptic vesicles; 900 vesicles were located within 60 nm from the active zone, 4400 between 60 and 200 nm, and the remaining beyond 200 nm, suggesting large readily releasable, recycling, and reserve pools. The organization of the different pools may be a key structural correlate of presynaptic plasticity at this synapse. Thus, the mossy fiber bouton differs fundamentally in structure and function from the calyx of Held and other central synapses.

Key words: mossy fiber; neuromodulation; synapse; synaptic transmission; synaptic plasticity; synaptic vesicle release

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Received April 30, 2007; revised July 19, 2007; accepted July 23, 2007.

Correspondence should be addressed to Joachim H. R. Lübke, Institute of Neuroscience and Biophysics, INB-3, Research Centre Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany. Email: j.luebke{at}fz-juelich.de

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