Nature Neuroscience
2, 618 - 624 (1999)
doi:10.1038/10172
Different modes of expression of AMPA and NMDA receptors in hippocampal
synapsesYutaka Takumi1, 2, Vania Ramírez-León1, 3, Petter Laake4, Eric Rinvik1
& Ole P. Ottersen11
Department of Anatomy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences,
University of Oslo, POB 1105 Blindern,
0317 Oslo, Norway
2
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hirosaki University
School of Medicine, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan
3
Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute,
S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
4
Section of Medical Statistics, University of Oslo,
POB 1122 Blindern, 0317 Oslo,
Norway
Correspondence should be addressed to Ole P. Ottersen o.p.ottersen@basalmed.uio.noPostembedding immunogold labeling was used to determine the relationship
between AMPA and NMDA receptor density and size of Schaffer collateral−commissural
(SCC) synapses of the adult rat. All SCC synapses expressed NMDA receptors.
AMPA and NMDA receptors were colocalized in at least 75% of SCC synapses;
the ratio of AMPA to NMDA receptors was a linear function of postsynaptic
density (PSD) diameter, with AMPA receptor number dropping to zero at a PSD
diameter of ~180 nm. These findings indicate that 'silent' SCC synapses are
smaller than the majority of SCC synapses at which AMPA and NMDA receptors
are colocalized. Thus synapse size may determine important properties of SCC
synapses.
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