Rapid Golgi analysis method for efficient and unbiased classification of dendritic spines.

ABSTRACT: Dendritic spines are the primary recipients of excitatory synaptic input in the brain. Spine morphology provides important information on the functional state of ongoing synaptic transmission. One of the most commonly used methods to visualize spines is Golgi-Cox staining, which is appealing both due to ease of sample preparation and wide applicability to multiple species including humans. However, the classification of spines is a time-consuming and often expensive task that yields widely varying results between individuals. Here, we present a novel approach to this analysis technique that uses the unique geometry of different spine shapes to categorize spines on a purely objective basis. This rapid Golgi spine analysis method successfully conveyed the maturational shift in spine types du

SUBMITTER: Risher WC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4160288 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature