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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number
Published on: November 16, 2010
Retrograde regulation of presynaptic development during synaptogenesis
1Department of Zoology and Genetics, Iowa State University, Ames 50011.
Abstract:
Major advances are occurring in our understanding of the events leading to synapse formation. Contact between the growth cone and target tissue leads to intercellular signaling which controls both pre- and postsynaptic development of the synapse. The identity of retrograde signals that regulate presynaptic development are beginning to emerge, and the signal transduction cascades that are activated presynaptically are being characterized. Recent studies have shown that both the resting calcium level and activation of presynaptic protein kinase A are critical in the development of the presynaptic terminal. An understanding of these regulatory mechanisms is beginning to provide insight into the molecular control of synaptic specificity.
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