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Updated: May 21, 2026
A Microbiomechanical System for Studying Varicosity Formation and Recovery in Central Neuron Axons
Published on: April 30, 2018
Synaptic functions of invertebrate varicosities: what molecular mechanisms lie beneath
Carlo Natale Giuseppe Giachello1, Pier Giorgio Montarolo, Mirella Ghirardi
1Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Corso Raffaello 30, 10125 Torino, Italy. carlo.giachello@unito.it
Abstract:
In mammalian brain, the cellular and molecular events occurring in both synapse formation and plasticity are difficult to study due to the large number of factors involved in these processes and because the contribution of each component is not well defined. Invertebrates, such as Drosophila, Aplysia, Helix, Lymnaea, and Helisoma, have proven to be useful models for studying synaptic assembly and elementary forms of learning. Simple nervous system, cellular accessibility, and genetic simplicity are some examples of the invertebrate advantages that allowed to improve our knowledge about evolutionary neuronal conserved mechanisms. In this paper, we present an overview of progresses that elucidates cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying synaptogenesis and synapse plasticity in invertebrate varicosities and their validation in vertebrates. In particular, the role of invertebrate synapsin in the formation of presynaptic terminals and the cell-to-cell interactions that induce specific structural and functional changes in their respective targets will be analyzed.
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