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Related Concept Videos

Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

8.8K
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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The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

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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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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...
5.5K
Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters01:29

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

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When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of...
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Electrical Synapses01:28

Electrical Synapses

8.2K
Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2025

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

Published on: October 6, 2017

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Synapse Regulation.

Haley A Vecchiarelli1, Luana Tenorio Lopes1, Rosa C Paolicelli2

  • 1Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.

Advances in Neurobiology
|August 29, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microglia, the brain's immune cells, constantly survey neural tissue. Using non-invasive imaging, researchers found they actively shape synaptic function and plasticity throughout life.

Keywords:
Brain-derived neurotrophic factorComplementFractalkineFunctionMaturationMicrogliaNeuronal circuit remodelingPhagocytosisPhysiologyPlasticityPurinergic signallingSynapses

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Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy
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Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy

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Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number
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Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2025

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices
07:44

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Published on: October 6, 2017

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Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy
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Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy

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Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number
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Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Microglia are the brain's resident immune cells, crucial for maintaining homeostasis.
  • They exhibit dynamic morphological and functional changes in response to stimuli.
  • Studying microglia requires non-invasive methods due to their rapid transformation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of microglia in synaptic modulation in the healthy brain.
  • To understand how microglia interact with neuronal circuits across the lifespan.
  • To explore the impact of microglial activity on learning, memory, and behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Development and application of non-invasive techniques.
  • Transcranial two-photon in vivo imaging.
  • Observation of microglial process dynamics and interactions with synapses.

Main Results:

  • "Resting" microglia continuously survey the brain parenchyma with motile processes.
  • Microglia modulate structural and functional interactions with neuronal circuits.
  • These interactions change with neuronal activity and experience throughout life.

Conclusions:

  • Microglia are essential surveillant cells actively shaping synaptic elements.
  • They influence synapse number, maturation, function, and plasticity in developing, mature, and aging brains.
  • Microglial activity has significant consequences for neuronal function, learning, memory, and behavior.