Cited by 1,025Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchMemory and Neural MechanismsTreatment of Major Depression

Shrinkage of dendritic spines associated with long-term depression of hippocampal synapses

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Zhou, Qiang, Homma, Koichi J., Poo, Mu-ming·2004·Neuron

Abstract

Activity-induced modification of neuronal connections is essential for the development of the nervous system and may also underlie learning and memory functions of mature brain. Previous studies have shown an increase in dendritic spine density and/or enlargement of spines after the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP). Using two-photon time-lapse imaging of dendritic spines in acute hippocampal slices from neonatal rats, we found that the induction of long-term depression (LTD) by low-frequency stimulation is accompanied by a marked shrinkage of spines, which can be reversed by subsequent high-frequency stimulation that induces LTP. The spine shrinkage requires activation of NMDA receptors and calcineurin, similar to that for LTD. However, spine shrinkage is mediated by cofilin, but not by protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), which is essential for LTD, suggesting that different downstream pathways are involved in spine shrinkage and LTD. This activity-induced spine shrinkage may contribute to activity-dependent elimination of synaptic connections.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuron.2004.11.011

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  • The triggering of LTD is associated with the shrinkage of dendritic spines and perhaps even their disappearance.

    “Conversely, the triggering of LTD is associated with the shrinkage of dendritic spines and perhaps even their disappearance (Na ¨gerl et al. 2004;Zhou et al. 2004;Wang et al. 2007;Kasai et al. 2010).”
  • Infrequent co-activation weakens and likely eliminates synaptic connections.

    “In contrast, when two cells co-activate infrequently, dendritic spines shrink or disappear, and the synaptic connection weakens and is likely to be eliminated.(64, 65)”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Dudek, S.M., and Bear, M.F. (1992). Homosynaptic long-term de- lowing spatial learning in adult rats suggests the formation of new pression in area CA1 of hippocampus and effects of N-methyl-D- synapses. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91, 12673-12675.
  2. aspartate receptor blockade. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 4363-

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Authors
Zhou, Q., Homma, K. J., & Poo, M.-M.
Affiliations
University of California, Berkeley (US)
Corresponding author
Poo, Mu-ming
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2004-12
Volume
44
Issue
5
Pages
749-757
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2107611011
Cited by
1,025
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 55 · 2017: 43 · 2016: 44 · 2015: 54 · 2014: 64 · 2013: 54 · 2012: 58
FWCI
14.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS37831, R01NS036999, NS 36999, R01NS037831)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords
long-term depression, long-term potentiation, hippocampal synapses, NMDA receptor, calcineurin, cofilin, protein phosphatase 1, synaptic plasticity, low-frequency stimulation, high-frequency stimulation
MeSH terms
Animals, Electrophysiology, Hippocampus, Microfilament Proteins, Synapses, Signal Transduction, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Long-Term Synaptic Depression, Dendritic Spines, Actin Depolymerizing Factors, Rats, In Vitro Techniques

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