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Related Concept Videos

Long-term Potentiation01:25

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
Long-term Potentiation01:35

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Neuroplasticity01:01

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Plasticity00:58

Plasticity

Plasticity is the property where an object loses its elasticity and undergoes irreversible deformation, even after the deformation forces are eliminated. If a material deforms irreversibly without increasing stress or load, then this is called ideal plasticity. For example, when a force is applied to an aluminum rod, it changes its shape, but it does not return to its original shape once the force is removed. Plastic deformation or ductility is thus a permanent deformation or change in the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking
10:34

A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking

Published on: January 28, 2019

Rapid active zone remodeling during synaptic plasticity.

Annika Weyhersmüller1, Stefan Hallermann, Nicole Wagner

  • 1Carl Ludwig Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|April 22, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Synaptic plasticity strengthens neurotransmitter release by remodeling the active zone. This involves increasing release-ready vesicles and altering presynaptic structures within minutes, enhancing synaptic function.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Synaptic plasticity mechanisms, particularly how neurotransmitter release is regulated, remain incompletely understood.
  • Presynaptic homeostatic compensation provides a model for studying plastic strengthening of synaptic release.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the determinants of neurotransmitter release during synaptic plasticity.
  • To elucidate the structural and functional changes underlying presynaptic strengthening at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of short-term plasticity and cumulative excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs).
  • Fluctuation analysis and quantal short-term plasticity modeling.
  • High-resolution light microscopy to examine active zone protein and cytomatrix structure.

Main Results:

  • Presynaptic strengthening increases the number of release-ready vesicles.
  • Active zone remodeling involves increased Bruchpilot protein and enlarged cytomatrix structures.
  • These functional and structural changes occur rapidly, within minutes of presynaptic strengthening.

Conclusions:

  • Presynaptic plasticity can rapidly induce active zone remodeling.
  • Active zone remodeling regulates the number of release-ready vesicles, impacting synaptic transmission.
  • This study provides insights into the rapid molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity.