Morphological correlates of functionally defined synaptic vesicle populations

T Schikorski; C F Stevens

doi:10.1038/86042

Morphological correlates of functionally defined synaptic vesicle populations

Nat Neurosci. 2001 Apr;4(4):391-5. doi: 10.1038/86042.

Authors

T Schikorski¹, C F Stevens

Affiliation

¹ Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Molecular Neurobiology Lab, The Salk Institute, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.

PMID: 11276229
DOI: 10.1038/86042

Abstract

By combining photoconversion of FM1-43-stained vesicles and electron microscopy of hippocampal synapses, we find evidence that the population of morphologically docked synaptic vesicles corresponds to the release-ready neurotransmitter quanta. Furthermore, those synaptic vesicles that are participating in cycles of exo- and endocytosis tend to be closer to the active zone than vesicles that are being held in reserve.

MeSH terms

Animals
Cells, Cultured
Fluorescent Dyes / analysis
Hippocampus / chemistry
Hippocampus / cytology*
Hippocampus / ultrastructure
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Neurons / chemistry*
Neurons / ultrastructure
Neurotransmitter Agents / analysis*
Pyridinium Compounds / analysis
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / analysis
Rats
Regression Analysis
Synapses / ultrastructure
Synaptic Vesicles / chemistry*
Synaptic Vesicles / ultrastructure*

Substances

FM1 43
Fluorescent Dyes
Neurotransmitter Agents
Pyridinium Compounds
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds