The components of an electrical synapse as revealed by expansion microscopy of a single synaptic contact.

ABSTRACT: Most nervous systems combine both transmitter-mediated and direct cell-cell communication, known as 'chemical' and 'electrical' synapses, respectively. Chemical synapses can be identified by their multiple structural components. Electrical synapses are, on the other hand, generally defined by the presence of a 'gap junction' (a cluster of intercellular channels) between two neuronal processes. However, while gap junctions provide the communicating mechanism, it is unknown whether electrical transmission requires the contribution of additional cellular structures. We investigated this question at identifiable single synaptic contacts on the zebrafish Mauthner cells, at which gap junctions coexist with specializations for neurotransmitter release and where the contact defines the anatomical

SUBMITTER: Cardenas-Garcia SP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10402082 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature