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Ultrastructural readout of functional synaptic vesicle pools in hippocampal slices based on FM dye labeling and photoconversion

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posted on 2023-06-08, 23:32 authored by Vincenzo Marra, Jemima J Burden, Freya Crawford, Kevin StarasKevin Staras
Fast activity-driven turnover of neurotransmitter-filled vesicles at presynaptic terminals is a crucial step in information transfer in the CNS. Characterization of the relationship between the nanoscale organization of synaptic vesicles and their functional properties during transmission is currently of interest. Here we outline a procedure for ultrastructural investigation of functional vesicles in synapses from native mammalian brain tissue. FM dye is injected into the target region of a brain slice and upstream axons are electrically activated to stimulate vesicle turnover and dye uptake. In the presence of diaminobenzidine (DAB), photoactivation of dye-filled vesicles yields an osmiophilic precipitate that is visible in electron micrographs. When combined with serial-section electron microscopy, fundamental ultrastructure-function relationships of presynaptic terminals in native circuits are revealed. We outline the utility of this protocol for the 3D reconstruction of a recycling vesicle pool in CA3-CA1 synapses from an acute hippocampal slice and for the characterization of its anatomically defined docked pool. This protocol requires 6-7 d.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Nature Protocols

ISSN

1754-2189

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Issue

6

Volume

9

Page range

1337-1347

Department affiliated with

  • Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-11-25

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2022-12-06

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2022-12-06

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