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Analysis of Dendritic Spine Morphology in Cultured CNS Neurons
Published on: July 13, 2011
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Cell-Autonomous Regulation of Dendritic Spine Density by PirB
George S Vidal1, Maja Djurisic1, Kiana Brown1
1Departments of Biology and Neurobiology, and Bio-X, James H. Clark Center, Stanford University , Stanford, California 94305.
Eneuro
|October 19, 2016
Summary
Paired Ig-like receptor B (PirB) deletion in specific excitatory neurons increases synapse density during critical developmental periods. This suggests PirB cell-autonomously regulates synaptic plasticity in the visual cortex.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Synaptic Plasticity
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Synapse density on cortical neurons is shaped by experience, particularly during critical developmental periods.
- The paired Ig-like receptor B (PirB) influences synaptic pruning and ocular dominance plasticity in the mouse visual cortex.
- Mice lacking PirB exhibit persistent dendritic spines and juvenile-like plasticity in adulthood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if PirB is specifically required in excitatory neurons for regulating dendritic spine and synapse density during critical periods.
- To determine the cell-autonomous role of PirB in L2/3 cortical pyramidal neurons.
Main Methods:
- Conditional PirB deletion in L2/3 cortical pyramidal neurons using a conditional allele (PirBfl/fl) and in utero electroporation of Cre recombinase.
- Sparse mosaic expression of Cre to compare PirB-deficient neurons with wild-type neighbors.
- Analysis of dendritic spine density, miniature excitatory postsynaptic current (mEPSC) frequency, dendritic branching, and axonal bouton density.
Main Results:
- PirB deletion specifically in L2/3 pyramidal neurons led to significantly elevated dendritic spine density.
- Neurons lacking PirB showed an increased frequency of miniature EPSCs, indicating greater synaptic input.
- These effects were observed without changes in dendritic branching complexity or axonal bouton density.
Conclusions:
- PirB acts in a neuron-specific, cell-autonomous manner to control synaptic density in L2/3 pyramidal cells of the visual cortex.
- PirB normally functions to limit spine density and synaptic plasticity, allowing for ongoing experience-dependent structural changes throughout life.
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