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Updated: May 8, 2026
Simultaneous Two-photon In Vivo Imaging of Synaptic Inputs and Postsynaptic Targets in the Mouse Retrosplenial Cortex
Published on: March 13, 2016
Synaptic molecular imaging in spared and deprived columns of mouse barrel cortex with array tomography
Nicholas C Weiler1, Forrest Collman2, Joshua T Vogelstein3
1Graduate Program in Neurosciences, Stanford University School of Medicine , Stanford, California 94305, USA ; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine , Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Neuroscience research reveals how experience-dependent plasticity shapes neural circuits for learning and memory. Differences in synaptic protein expression are key to understanding synaptic diversity and plasticity effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Synaptic Plasticity
- Molecular Neuroscience
Background:
- Neural circuits form the basis for learning and memory through experience-dependent plasticity.
- Synaptic protein expression patterns may explain synaptic diversity and plasticity effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate how synaptic connections are affected by experience-dependent plasticity.
- Understand the role of protein expression in synaptic diversity and plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized array tomography (ATomo) for immunohistochemical multiplexing.
- Analyzed mouse barrel cortex with its columnar organization.
- Generated high-resolution volumetric images of spared and deprived cortical whisker barrels.
- Stained samples for over a dozen synaptic molecules.
Main Results:
- Created a comprehensive dataset of synaptic molecular data.
- Dataset available via the Open Connectome Project for online and offline analysis.
Conclusions:
- Synaptic protein expression differences are crucial for understanding synaptic diversity.
- Experience-dependent plasticity impacts specific synapse populations, forming the basis of learning and memory.
