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Ultrastructural readout of functional synaptic vesicle pools in hippocampal slices based on FM dye labeling and photoconversion
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 23:32 authored by Vincenzo Marra, Jemima J Burden, Freya Crawford, Kevin StarasKevin StarasFast 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.
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Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Nature ProtocolsISSN
1754-2189Publisher
Nature Publishing GroupExternal DOI
Issue
6Volume
9Page range
1337-1347Department affiliated with
- Neuroscience Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2015-11-25First Open Access (FOA) Date
2022-12-06First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2022-12-06Usage metrics
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