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Changes of synaptic structure after long-lasting LTP induced by high and frequency tetanus in slices of the rat visual cortex

Pan Bin, Yang Dongwei, Han Taizhen

Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University.Xi’an 710061,Shaanxi

Abstract

Synaptic ultrastructural changes after long-lasting long-term potentiation (L-LTP) induced by 2 and 100 Hz tetanus were investigated by electron microscopic and stereological approach in slices of the developing rat visual cortex (postnatal days 15-21). Both 2 and 100 Hz tetanus-induced L-LTP groups showed significant increases in synaptic interface curvature, synaptic numeric density and postsynaptic density thickness, as well as significant decreases in the cleft width, as compared with the control groups. In addition, the volume density of the active zone (AZ) was increased significantly in the 100 Hz tetanus-induced L-LTP group, but not in the 2 Hz group. The mean lateral area of individual AZ in the 100 Hz group was relatively higher than that in the 2 Hz group. These data suggest that newly formed synapses in the 100 Hz tetanus-induced L-LTP group are larger than those in the 2 Hz group and that 100Hz tetanus might trigger reorganization or synthesis of postsynaptic cytoskeleton.

Key words: Long-term potentiation;Visual cortex;Morphology;Synapse

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Citing This Article：

Pan Bin, Yang Dongwei, Han Taizhen. Changes of synaptic structure after long-lasting LTP induced by high and frequency tetanus in slices of the rat visual cortex . Acta Physiol Sin 2005; 57 (1): (in Chinese with English abstract).