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Cited by 136Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors StudyCholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Cholinergic nerve terminals establish classical synapses in the rat cerebral cortex: synaptic pattern and age-related atrophy

Turrini, P, Casu, M.A, Wong, T.P, De Koninck, Y, Ribeiro-da-Silva, A, Cuello, A.C·2001·Neuroscience
DOI 10.1016/s0306-4522(01)00172-5
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Abstract

This study addresses the issue of whether cholinergic varicosities in the cerebral cortex establish 'classical synapses' or whether they communicate with their targets non-synaptically by 'volume transmission'. Most recent studies in the neocortex have suggested that acetylcholine acts non-synaptically, however in the present study we provide ultrastructural evidence that suggests synaptic mechanisms prevail. This conclusion is based upon our ultrastructural observations that cholinergic boutons--as revealed by immunoreactivity for the specific cholinergic market, vesicular acetylcholine transporter--establish a high percentage of classical synapses in layer V of the rat parietal cortex. Furthermore, the combination of this approach with the intracellular labeling of large pyramidal neurons on slice preparations revealed significant incidences of cholinergic contacts abutting preferentially on dendritic shafts. Finally, we have gathered information suggesting that cholinergic boutons undergo atrophy with aging which could be related to the well-known cholinergic and cognitive decline. These results illustrate that the cholinergic terminations in the neocortex establish proper synaptic connections and that they experience important age-dependent atrophy.

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  • Anatomical studies have identified cortical cholinergic synapses that are structurally similar to those of other point-to-point neurotransmitters, in both rats and humans.

    “Anatomical studies have identified cortical cholinergic synapses that are structurally similar to those of other point-to-point neurotransmitters, in both rats (Turrini et al., 2001) and humans (Smiley et al., 1997).”

    From Acetylcholine as a Neuromodulator: Cholinergic Signaling Shapes Nervous System Function and Behavior (2012) · cites this paper as Turrini et al., 2001

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Authors
Turrini, P., Casu, M. A., Wong, T. P., De Koninck, Y., Ribeiro-da-Silva, A., & Cuello, A. C.
Affiliations
McGill University (CA)
Corresponding author
Cuello, A.C
ORCID
Venue
Neuroscience
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2001-07
Volume
105
Issue
2
Pages
277-285
ISSN
0306-4522 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/s0306-4522(01)00172-5
OpenAlex
W2045697035
Cited by
135
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 9
FWCI
3.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • P-arch (Science and Technology Park of Sardinia) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01ns034022-03)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS 34022)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Keywords
cholinergic nerve terminals, volume transmission, acetylcholine, vesicular acetylcholine transporter, parietal cortex, layer V, pyramidal neurons, dendritic synapses, synaptic ultrastructure, cognitive decline
MeSH terms
Acetylcholine, Aging, Animals, Atrophy, Carrier Proteins, Cerebral Cortex, Cholinergic Fibers, Dendrites, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Microscopy, Electron, Rats, Inbred F344, Presynaptic Terminals, Pyramidal Cells, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Membrane Transport Proteins, Vesicular Transport Proteins, Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins, Rats

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