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Related Concept Videos

The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

99.8K
Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
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Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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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...
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Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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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...
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Overview of Synapses01:25

Overview of Synapses

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A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...
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Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

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Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
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Synaptic Signaling01:12

Synaptic Signaling

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Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices
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Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

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Synapse selection based on differences in synapse turnover.

J M Thompson1, G S Eisenbarth, R R Ruffolo

  • 1Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20205, U.S.A.

International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience
|May 31, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Rat retinal neurons form temporary synapses, while chick spinal cord neurons form stable ones. This difference in synapse turnover rate impacts neural connection specificity during development.

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An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Synaptic connections are crucial for neural function.
  • Understanding the developmental regulation of synapse formation and stability is key to understanding neural circuit development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental timing and stability of synaptic connections formed between different neuronal populations and muscle cells.
  • To compare the plasticity and turnover rates of cholinergic synapses originating from rat retinal neurons versus chick embryo spinal cord neurons.

Main Methods:

  • Primary neuronal cultures of rat retinal neurons and chick embryo spinal cord neurons.
  • Co-culture with muscle cells to induce synapse formation.
  • Time-lapse microscopy and immunocytochemistry to assess synapse formation, stability, and turnover over various developmental stages and culture durations.

Main Results:

  • Rat retinal neurons formed transient synapses with muscle cells only between embryonic day 20 and neonatal day 7, with synapses terminating within 7 days of culture.
  • Chick embryo spinal cord neurons formed synapses across all tested embryonic developmental stages (days 2-18).
  • While the percentage of spinal cord neurons forming synapses peaked at embryonic day 4, the number of synapses remained stable for 14 days in culture, unlike rat retinal neuron synapses.

Conclusions:

  • Differential rates of synaptic turnover between neuronal populations can lead to selective retention or loss of synaptic connections.
  • These differences in synapse stability significantly influence the specificity and long-term maintenance of neural circuits during development.