Cited by 905Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Rapid Actin-Based Plasticity in Dendritic Spines

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Fischer, Maria, Kaech, Stefanie, Knutti, Darko, Matus, Andrew·1998·Neuron

Abstract

Dendritic spines have been proposed as primary sites of synaptic plasticity in the brain. Consistent with this hypothesis, spines contain high concentrations of actin, suggesting that they might be motile. To investigate this possibility, we made video recordings from hippocampal neurons expressing actin tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP-actin). This reagent incorporates into actin-containing structures and allows the visualization of actin dynamics in living neurons. In mature neurons, recordings of GFP fluorescence revealed large actin-dependent changes in dendritic spine shape, similar to those inferred from previous studies using fixed tissues. Visible changes occurred within seconds, suggesting that anatomical plasticity at synapses can be extremely rapid. As well as providing a molecular basis for structural plasticity, the presence of motile actin in dendritic spines implicates the postsynaptic element as a primary site of this phenomenon.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0896-6273(00)80467-5

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  • In cultured hippocampal neurons, actin distribution in spines changes on a time scale of seconds to minutes in a manner that is perturbed by latrunculin A.

    “A recent study demonstrated that, in cultured hippocampal neurons, actin distribution in spines changes on a time scale of seconds to minutes in a manner that is perturbed by latrunculin A (Fischer et al., 1998).”
  • Morphological alterations of dendritic spines have profound effects on efficacy of synaptic transmission.

    “Morphological alterations of dendritic spines have been shown to have profound effects on the efficacy of synaptic transmission43.”
  • Low concentrations of AAIs (0.01-1 μM) are similar to those shown previously to alter actin filament organization in cultured cells, prevent lamellipodial ruffling in fibroblasts, inhibit motility and retrograde flow in neuronal growth cones, and arrest dendritic spine motility in hippocampal neurons.

    “The concentrations of latrunculin A and cytochalasins used here (0.01–1 μM) are similar to those that have been shown previously to alter actin filament organization in cultured cells, prevent lamellipodial ruffling in fibroblasts, inhibit motility and retrograde flow in neuronal growth cones, and arrest dendritic spine motility in hippocampal neurons (3, 4, 7, 10).”

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Authors
Fischer, M., Kaech, S., Knutti, D., & Matus, A.
Affiliations
Friedrich Miescher Institute (CH)
Corresponding author
Matus, Andrew
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1998-05
Volume
20
Issue
5
Pages
847-854
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2111916392
Cited by
905
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 34
FWCI
20.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
dendritic spines, actin dynamics, synaptic plasticity, structural plasticity, hippocampal neurons, spine motility, postsynaptic elements
MeSH terms
Actins, Animals, Cell Line, Dendrites, Fibroblasts, Hippocampus, Indicators and Reagents, Luminescent Proteins, Neuronal Plasticity, Neurons, Synapses, Thiazoles, Cytochalasin D, Microscopy, Video, Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic, Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors, Cell Size, Green Fluorescent Proteins, Rats, Thiazolidines

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