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Synaptic dynamism measured over minutes to months: age-dependent decline in an autonomic ganglion

Nature Neuroscience volume 6, pages 956–960 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Naturally occurring rearrangements of synaptic terminals are common in the nervous systems of young mammals, but little is known about their incidence in adults. Using transgenic mice that express yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) in axons, we repeatedly imaged nerve terminals in the parasympathetic submandibular ganglion. We found that the pattern of synaptic branches underwent significant rearrangements over several weeks in young adult mice. In older mice, rearrangements were less common, and synaptic patterns on individual neurons were recognizable for many months to years. Axonal branches frequently retracted or extended on a time scale of minutes in young adult mice, but seldom in mature animals. These results provide direct evidence for a decrease in plasticity of interneuronal connections as animals make the transition from young adulthood to middle age. The long-term stability of synaptic patterns could provide a structural basis for the persistence of memory in the adult nervous system.

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Figure 1: YFP labeling of preganglionic axons and synaptic boutons in the submandibular ganglion.
Figure 2: Overall stability of synaptic connections as well as some local remodeling over weeks to months.
Figure 3: Imaging ganglion cells over months or years showed stability of synaptic patterns.
Figure 4: Distribution of synaptic connections is more stable in mature animals than in young adults.
Figure 5: In vivo time-lapse recording of rapid change of synaptic terminal arbors in young mice.

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Acknowledgements

We thank H. Suk-Woo for help with data analysis. This work was supported by grants from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) to J.W.L. and J.R.S. W-B.G. and E.K. were supported by grants to W-B.G. from the NIH (R01 NS41846-01) and the Ellison Foundation. Support from the Bakewell NeuroImaging Fund is gratefully acknowledged.

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Author notes

  1. Wen-Biao Gan & Elaine Kwon

    Present address: Molecular Neurobiology Program, Skirball Institute, Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, New York University School of Medicine, 540 First Avenue, New York, New York, 10016, USA

  2. Guoping Feng

    Present address: Department of Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27710, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid, Box 8108, St. Louis, 63110, Missouri, USA

    Wen-Biao Gan, Elaine Kwon, Joshua R Sanes & Jeff W Lichtman

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Correspondence to Jeff W Lichtman.

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Gan, WB., Kwon, E., Feng, G. et al. Synaptic dynamism measured over minutes to months: age-dependent decline in an autonomic ganglion. Nat Neurosci 6, 956–960 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1115

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