Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Long-term Depression

Long-term Depression

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

Long-term Depression

Long-term Depression

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

Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Trigeminal root dislocation subtends focal demyelination of primary trigeminal afferents in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2026

Same author

Therapeutic approach to fibromyalgia: a consensus statement on pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment from the neuropathic pain special interest group of the Italian neurological society.

Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology·2025

Same author

Nerve ultrasound in Friedreich's Ataxia: enlarged nerves as a biomarker of disease severity.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2024

Same author

Predicting value for incomplete recovery in Bell's palsy of facial nerve ultrasound versus nerve conduction study.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2023

Same author

Modulation of the spinal N13 SEP component by high- and low-frequency electrical stimulation. Experimental pain models matter.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2023

Same author

Clinical criteria and diagnostic assessment of fibromyalgia: position statement of the Italian Society of Neurology-Neuropathic Pain Study Group.

Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology·2023

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology

Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology

Published on: March 23, 2011

Dietary restriction modulates synaptic structural dynamics in the aging hippocampus.

C Bertoni-Freddari, P Fattoretti, U Caselli

|April 23, 2013

Summary

Dietary restriction in rats significantly remodels synaptic structure in the hippocampus, increasing synaptic density and promoting smaller contact zones. This suggests a positive impact of caloric restriction on synaptic dynamics and neuronal health.

More Related Videos

Minimizing Hypoxia in Hippocampal Slices from Adult and Aging Mice

Minimizing Hypoxia in Hippocampal Slices from Adult and Aging Mice

Published on: July 2, 2020

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Published on: October 6, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology

Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology

Published on: March 23, 2011

Minimizing Hypoxia in Hippocampal Slices from Adult and Aging Mice

Minimizing Hypoxia in Hippocampal Slices from Adult and Aging Mice

Published on: July 2, 2020

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Published on: October 6, 2017

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Aging Research

Background:

Aging leads to significant changes in synaptic ultrastructure, including decreased synaptic density and altered synaptic area.
Dietary restriction is known to influence aging processes and neuronal health, but its specific effects on synaptic morphology require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of dietary restriction on synaptic ultrastructural features in the hippocampus of aging rats.
To quantify changes in synaptic numeric density (Nv), surface density (Sv), and average area (S) under dietary restriction.

Main Methods:

Computer-assisted morphometric analysis of synaptic ultrastructure in the hippocampus of rats.
Comparison between dietary restricted (DR14, DR27) and ad libitum (AL) fed age-matched control rats.
Measurement of synaptic numeric density (Nv), surface density (Sv), and average area (S).

Main Results:

Old AL rats showed decreased Nv (not significant), increased S, and decreased Sv compared to adult AL rats.
DR14 rats exhibited significantly increased Nv, with unchanged S and Sv compared to AL controls.
DR27 rats displayed significantly increased Nv and Sv, and significantly decreased S compared to age-matched AL controls.
Both DR groups showed a higher percentage of smaller synaptic contact zones.

Conclusions:

Dietary restriction induces significant synaptic morphological rearrangements in the hippocampus of aging rats.
The observed increase in smaller synapses suggests a marked remodeling process influenced by dietary restriction.
These findings indicate a positive modulation of synaptic structural dynamics by dietary restriction, potentially linked to altered neuronal membrane properties.