Synaptic dynamism measured over minutes to months: age-dependent decline in an autonomic ganglion. 2003

Wen-Biao Gan, and Elaine Kwon, and Guoping Feng, and Joshua R Sanes, and Jeff W Lichtman
Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid, Box 8108, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.

Naturally occurring rearrangements of synaptic terminals are common in the nervous systems of young mammals, but little is known about their incidence in adults. Using transgenic mice that express yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) in axons, we repeatedly imaged nerve terminals in the parasympathetic submandibular ganglion. We found that the pattern of synaptic branches underwent significant rearrangements over several weeks in young adult mice. In older mice, rearrangements were less common, and synaptic patterns on individual neurons were recognizable for many months to years. Axonal branches frequently retracted or extended on a time scale of minutes in young adult mice, but seldom in mature animals. These results provide direct evidence for a decrease in plasticity of interneuronal connections as animals make the transition from young adulthood to middle age. The long-term stability of synaptic patterns could provide a structural basis for the persistence of memory in the adult nervous system.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008164 Luminescent Proteins Proteins which are involved in the phenomenon of light emission in living systems. Included are the "enzymatic" and "non-enzymatic" types of system with or without the presence of oxygen or co-factors. Bioluminescent Protein,Bioluminescent Proteins,Luminescent Protein,Photoprotein,Photoproteins,Protein, Bioluminescent,Protein, Luminescent,Proteins, Bioluminescent,Proteins, Luminescent
D008822 Mice, Transgenic Laboratory mice that have been produced from a genetically manipulated EGG or EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN. Transgenic Mice,Founder Mice, Transgenic,Mouse, Founder, Transgenic,Mouse, Transgenic,Mice, Transgenic Founder,Transgenic Founder Mice,Transgenic Mouse
D005725 Ganglia, Autonomic Clusters of neurons and their processes in the autonomic nervous system. In the autonomic ganglia, the preganglionic fibers from the central nervous system synapse onto the neurons whose axons are the postganglionic fibers innervating target organs. The ganglia also contain intrinsic neurons and supporting cells and preganglionic fibers passing through to other ganglia. Autonomic Ganglia,Ganglion, Autonomic,Autonomic Ganglion
D000375 Aging The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time. Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001426 Bacterial Proteins Proteins found in any species of bacterium. Bacterial Gene Products,Bacterial Gene Proteins,Gene Products, Bacterial,Bacterial Gene Product,Bacterial Gene Protein,Bacterial Protein,Gene Product, Bacterial,Gene Protein, Bacterial,Gene Proteins, Bacterial,Protein, Bacterial,Proteins, Bacterial
D013569 Synapses Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions. Synapse
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D017729 Presynaptic Terminals The distal terminations of axons which are specialized for the release of neurotransmitters. Also included are varicosities along the course of axons which have similar specializations and also release transmitters. Presynaptic terminals in both the central and peripheral nervous systems are included. Axon Terminals,Nerve Endings, Presynaptic,Synaptic Boutons,Synaptic Terminals,Axon Terminal,Bouton, Synaptic,Boutons, Synaptic,Ending, Presynaptic Nerve,Endings, Presynaptic Nerve,Nerve Ending, Presynaptic,Presynaptic Nerve Ending,Presynaptic Nerve Endings,Presynaptic Terminal,Synaptic Bouton,Synaptic Terminal,Terminal, Axon,Terminal, Presynaptic,Terminal, Synaptic,Terminals, Axon,Terminals, Presynaptic,Terminals, Synaptic
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus

Related Publications

Wen-Biao Gan, and Elaine Kwon, and Guoping Feng, and Joshua R Sanes, and Jeff W Lichtman
October 2009, Biochemical pharmacology,
Wen-Biao Gan, and Elaine Kwon, and Guoping Feng, and Joshua R Sanes, and Jeff W Lichtman
December 1992, Developmental biology,
Wen-Biao Gan, and Elaine Kwon, and Guoping Feng, and Joshua R Sanes, and Jeff W Lichtman
March 1989, The Journal of comparative neurology,
Wen-Biao Gan, and Elaine Kwon, and Guoping Feng, and Joshua R Sanes, and Jeff W Lichtman
November 2007, The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
Wen-Biao Gan, and Elaine Kwon, and Guoping Feng, and Joshua R Sanes, and Jeff W Lichtman
September 2006, Nature,
Wen-Biao Gan, and Elaine Kwon, and Guoping Feng, and Joshua R Sanes, and Jeff W Lichtman
May 1949, The Journal of physiology,
Wen-Biao Gan, and Elaine Kwon, and Guoping Feng, and Joshua R Sanes, and Jeff W Lichtman
January 1993, Neurobiology of aging,
Wen-Biao Gan, and Elaine Kwon, and Guoping Feng, and Joshua R Sanes, and Jeff W Lichtman
January 2004, Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders,
Wen-Biao Gan, and Elaine Kwon, and Guoping Feng, and Joshua R Sanes, and Jeff W Lichtman
June 2004, Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape,
Wen-Biao Gan, and Elaine Kwon, and Guoping Feng, and Joshua R Sanes, and Jeff W Lichtman
January 1976, Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!