Abstract
THE possibility that postsynaptic spines on neuronal dendrites are discrete biochemical compartments for Ca2+-activated processes involved in synaptic plasticity1–6 is a widely proposed concept that has eluded experimental demonstration. Using microfluorometry on CA3 neurons in hippocampal slices, we show here that with weak presynaptic stimulation of associative/commissural fibres, Ca2+ accumulates in single postsynaptic spines but not in the parent dendrite. Stronger stimulation also promotes changes in dendrites. The NMDA-receptor antagonist AP-5 blocks changes in Ca2+ in spines. Sustained steep Ca2+gradients between single spines and the parent dendrite, often lasting several minutes, develop with repeated stimulation. The observed compartmentalization allows for the specificity7,8, cooperativity9 and associativity10–14 displayed by memory models such as long-term potentiation.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dingledine, R. J. Physiol. 343, 385–405 (1983).
Jahr, C. E. & Stevens, C. F. Nature 325, 522–525 (1987).
Mayer, M. L. & Westbrook, G. L. J. Physiol. 394, 501–528 (1987).
Lynch, G., Larson, J., Kelso, S., Barrionuevo, G. & Schottler, F. Nature 305, 719–721 (1983).
Collingridge, G. L., Kehl, S. L. & McLennan, H. J. Physiol. 334, 33–46 (1983).
Zalutsky, R. A. & Nicoll, R. A. Science 248, 1619–1624 (1990).
Kelso, S. R., Ganong, A. H. & Brown, T. H. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 5326–5330 (1986).
Malinow, R. Science 252, 722–724 (1991).
McNaughton, B. L., Douglas, R. M. & Godard, G. V. Brain Res. 157, 277–293 (1978).
Levy, W. B. & Steward, O. Brain Res. 175, 233–245 (1979).
Barrionuevo, G. & Brown, T. H. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 7347–7351 (1983).
Madison, D. V., Malenka, R. C. & Nicoll, R. A. A. Rev. Neurosci. 14, 379–397 (1991).
Brown, T. H., Kairiss, E. W. & Kennan, C. L. A. Rev. Neurosci. 13, 475–511 (1990).
Cotman, C. W., Monaghan, D. T. & Ganong, A. H. A. Rev. Neurosci. 11, 61–80 (1988).
Harris, E. W. & Cotman, C. W. Neurosci. Lett. 70, 132–137 (1986).
Harris, K. M. & Stevens, J. K. J. Neurosci. 9, 2982–2997 (1988).
Müller, W. & Connor, J. A. Neuron 6, 901–905 (1991).
Connor, J. A., Wadman, W. J., Hockberger, P. E. & Wong, R. K. S. Science 240, 649–653 (1988).
Müller, W., Misgeld, U. & Heinemann, U. Expl Brain Res. 72, 287–298 (1988).
Tank, D. W., Sugimori, M., Connor, J. A. & Llinas, R. Science 242, 773–777 (1988).
Regehr, W. G., Connor, J. A. & Tank, D. W. Nature 341, 533–536 (1989).
Grynkiewicz, G., Poenie, M. & Tsien, R. Y. J. biol. Chem. 260, 3440–3450 (1985).
Tsien, R. Y. A. Rev. Neurosci. 12, 227–253 (1989).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Müller, W., Connor, J. Dendritic spines as individual neuronal compartments for synaptic Ca2+ responses. Nature 354, 73–76 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/354073a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/354073a0
This article is cited by
-
BDNF and Lactate as Modulators of Hippocampal CA3 Network Physiology
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (2023)
-
BDNF signaling during the lifetime of dendritic spines
Cell and Tissue Research (2020)
-
Merlin modulates process outgrowth and synaptogenesis in the cerebellum
Brain Structure and Function (2019)
-
Targeted intracellular voltage recordings from dendritic spines using quantum-dot-coated nanopipettes
Nature Nanotechnology (2017)
-
Microdomains in Forebrain Spines: an Ultrastructural Perspective
Molecular Neurobiology (2013)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.