Ultrastructural localization of calcium in the CNS of vertebrates

The ultrastructural localization of calcium in synaptic areas of the CNS of fish was investigated. Prefixation with phosphate-buffered glutaraldehyde followed by post-fixation with osmium/potassium-bichromate was used to precipitate and visualize endogenous calcium without the addition of external calcium. The presence of calcium in the electron-dense precipitates produced using this method was demonstrated by electron spectroscopic imaging using a Zeiss EM-902 transmission electron microscope, and in various control experiments using the calcium chelator EGTA. In the optic tectum of fish, electron dense precipitates containing calcium were found not only in intracellular compartments, e.g. the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and synaptic vesicles, but also at extracellular locations, particularly in synaptic clefts. In the extracellular sites, only chelate complexes of ionic calcium were found. This would seem to be in agreement with electrophysiological and biochemical data reported in earlier studies. Thus, using the present method, it should be possible to obtain further ultrastructural information concerning the mechanisms of synaptic transmission.