Coexistence of glutamatergic spine synapses and shaft synapses in substantia nigra dopamine neurons.

ABSTRACT: Dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra have long been believed to have multiple aspiny dendrites which receive many glutamatergic synaptic inputs from several regions of the brain. But, here, using high-resolution two-photon confocal microscopy in the mouse brain slices, we found a substantial number of common dendritic spines in the nigral dopamine neurons including thin, mushroom, and stubby types of spines. However, the number of dendritic spines of the dopamine neurons was approximately five times lower than that of CA1 pyramidal neurons. Immunostaining and morphological analysis revealed that glutamatergic shaft synapses were present two times more than spine synapses. Using local two-photon glutamate uncaging techniques, we confirmed that shaft synapses and spine synapses had both

SUBMITTER: Jang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4593176 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature