Neurotoxic effects of heavy metals on synaptic organization

The neurotoxicity of heavy metals is a major health concern. The study of their mechanisms of action is a subject of active research. This review summarizes the current research results on their effects on synaptic organization. Here, we highlight the latest data on individual components of synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic zones, and synaptic vesicles with their associated proteins. The effect of metals on dendritic spines is discussed separately. At the cellular level, dendritic spines serve as the primary sites of excitatory synaptic input. Alterations in their density and morphology are a hallmark of numerous neurodevelopmental disorders. Together, these findings offer additional insights into the synaptic dysregulation after heavy-metal exposure.