Functional differentiation of multiple climbing fiber inputs during synapse elimination in the developing cerebellum

Neuron. 2003 Jun 5;38(5):785-96. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(03)00298-8.

Abstract

We studied how physiological properties of cerebellar climbing fiber (CF) to Purkinje cell (PC) synapses change during developmental transition from multiple to mono CF innervation onto each PC. From P3 to P6, differences in the strengths of multiple CFs became larger. Around P10, each PC was either monoinnervated by one strong CF (CF-mono) or multiply innervated by one strong CF (CF-multi-S) plus a few weaker CFs (CF-multi-W). We show that simultaneous release of multiple vesicles per site occurs normally from CF-multi-S, CF-mono, and mature CFs, but less frequently from CF-multi-W and neonatal CFs. We also present evidence suggesting that weaker CFs with lower probability of multivesicular release would be withdrawn preferentially. The results suggest that differentiation into strong and weak CFs with high and low probabilities of multivesicular release precedes developmental CF synapse elimination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Afferent Pathways / cytology
  • Afferent Pathways / growth & development*
  • Afferent Pathways / metabolism
  • Aging / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology*
  • Cerebellar Cortex / cytology
  • Cerebellar Cortex / growth & development*
  • Cerebellar Cortex / metabolism
  • Dendrites / drug effects
  • Dendrites / metabolism
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / drug effects
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / physiology
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neuronal Plasticity / drug effects
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Presynaptic Terminals / drug effects
  • Presynaptic Terminals / metabolism*
  • Presynaptic Terminals / ultrastructure
  • Purkinje Cells / cytology
  • Purkinje Cells / metabolism*
  • Receptors, AMPA / drug effects
  • Receptors, AMPA / metabolism
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / drug effects
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • Synaptic Vesicles / metabolism
  • Synaptic Vesicles / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Glutamic Acid