Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
09:33
An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins
Published on: June 26, 2018
Presynaptic Vesicles Supply Membrane for Axonal Bouton Enlargement during Long Term Potentiation
L M Kirk1, G C Garcia2, D C Hanka3
1Center for Learning and Memory, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712 lyndskirk@utexas.edu.
Summary
Long-term potentiation (LTP) causes presynaptic boutons to enlarge by recycling membrane from lost vesicles. This provides a new structural indicator of synaptic plasticity and neuronal structural changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Synaptic Plasticity
Background:
- Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a key mechanism for learning and memory.
- LTP involves structural changes at the synapse, including presynaptic bouton enlargement and reduced synaptic vesicle numbers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between presynaptic bouton enlargement and synaptic vesicle dynamics following LTP.
- To identify novel structural indicators of LTP in presynaptic terminals.
Main Methods:
- 3D analysis of serial section electron micrographs in rat hippocampal area CA1.
- Quantitative analysis of bouton volume, vesicle density, and membrane area 2 hours post-LTP induction.
Main Results:
- LTP induction led to a decrease in synaptic vesicle packing density in presynaptic boutons.
- The membrane area from depleted vesicles correlated with the surface membrane required for bouton enlargement.
- Presynaptic vesicle density serves as a structural marker for LTP.
Conclusions:
- Synaptic vesicle membrane recycling is a local mechanism supporting presynaptic bouton enlargement during LTP.
- These findings offer new insights into the physical reorganization of synapses during plasticity.
- This work impacts our understanding of learning, memory, and neurological disorders.
Related Concept Videos
01:35Long-term Potentiation
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
01:25Long-term Potentiation
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
01:26Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane
Proteins and neurotransmitters in secretory vesicles can be released from a cell upon vesicle docking, priming, and fusion with the plasma membrane. Vesicles are docked and primed in preparation for the quick exocytosis of their contents in response to a stimulus. The fusion process is mainly carried out by a SNAP Receptor or SNARE complex, consisting of synaptobrevin, syntaxin-1, and SNAP-25.
In 1993, Jim Rothman proposed that the antiparallel pairing of vesicular and transmembrane SNAREs, or...
In 1993, Jim Rothman proposed that the antiparallel pairing of vesicular and transmembrane SNAREs, or...
01:09Synaptic Signaling
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...
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...
01:12Synaptic Signaling
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.
01:26Chemical Synapses
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...
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...