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Cited by 85Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and ApplicationsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchAdvanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques

Electron tomographic analysis of synaptic ultrastructure

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Burette, Alain C., Lesperance, Thomas, Crum, John, Martone, Maryann, Volkmann, Niels, Ellisman, Mark H., Weinberg, Richard J.·2012·Journal of Comparative Neurology
DOI 10.1002/cne.23067PMC PMC3856703
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Abstract

Synaptic function depends on interactions among sets of proteins that assemble into complex supramolecular machines. Molecular biology, electrophysiology, and live‐cell imaging studies have provided tantalizing glimpses into the inner workings of the synapse, but fundamental questions remain regarding the functional organization of these “nano‐machines.” Electron tomography reveals the internal structure of synapses in three dimensions with exceptional spatial resolution. Here we report results from an electron tomographic study of axospinous synapses in neocortex and hippocampus of the adult rat, based on aldehyde‐fixed material stabilized with tannic acid in lieu of postfixation with osmium tetroxide. Our results provide a new window into the structural basis of excitatory synaptic processing in the mammalian brain. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:2697–2711, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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  • Under transmission electron microscopy, synaptic terminals are spherical in shape and contain various synaptic vesicles.

    “As for synaptic terminals, they are spherical in shape and contain various synaptic vesicles [75].”

    From Aerobic exercise improves astrocyte mitochondrial quality and transfer to neurons in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (2025) · cites this paper as [75]

    The Results section, “The presynaptic terminal” (page unavailable), describes vesicles within the terminal, supporting that part of the claim. The Discussion describes the vesicles as hollow spheres, but the copy does not say the terminal itself is spherical. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Burette, A. C., Lesperance, T., Crum, J., Martone, M., Volkmann, N., Ellisman, M. H., & Weinberg, R. J.
Affiliations
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
Corresponding author
Burette, Alain C.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Comparative Neurology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2012-06-11
Volume
520
Issue
12
Pages
2697-2711
ISSN
  • 0021-9967 (ISSN-L)
  • 1096-9861
DOI
10.1002/cne.23067
PMC
PMC3856703
OpenAlex
W2164051829
Cited by
85
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 3
FWCI
4.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • The Journal of Comparative Neurology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
  • UNC Libraries
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (GM066311, RR004050)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM082949, P01GM066311)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS039444, R01NS035527, NS-35527)
  • National Center for Research Resources (P41RR004050)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Structural Biology › Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
Keywords
synaptic ultrastructure, axospinous synapses, excitatory synapses, neocortex, hippocampus, aldehyde fixation, rat brain
MeSH terms
Animals, Male, Osmium Tetroxide, Synapses, Artifacts, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Presynaptic Terminals, Dendritic Spines, Rats, Electron Microscope Tomography, Post-Synaptic Density

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