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Different modes of expression of AMPA and NMDA receptors in hippocampal synapses

Nature Neuroscience volume 2, pages 618–624 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

Postembedding 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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Figure 1: Double immunogold labeling.
Figure 2: AMPA and NMDA receptor immunogold lableling.
Figure 3: Regression analysis of serially sectioned asymmetric synapses on spines in stratum radiatum.
Figure 4: Distribution of PSD profiles according to labeling intensity for AMPA receptors (bin width corresponds to one gold particle).
Figure 5: Proportion and sizes of AMPA-immunonegative synapses.
Figure 6: Mossy fiber synapses (mf) labeled with antibodies to AMPA receptors.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Norwegian Research Council, Professor Letten F. Saugstad's Fund and EU Biomed grant PL 962118. A travel grant from Hjärnfonden, Erik & Edith Fernström's Fund and the Swedish Medical Research Council (to V.R.-L.) is gratefully acknowledged. Antibodies were provided by R. J. Wenthold. We thank R. J. Wenthold, R. Nicoll, Y. Ben-Ari, Johannes Helm and Ø. Hvalby for reading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences University of Oslo, POB 1105, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway

    Yutaka Takumi, Vania Ramírez-León, Eric Rinvik & Ole P. Ottersen

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan

    Yutaka Takumi

  3. Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, S-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden

    Vania Ramírez-León

  4. Section of Medical Statistics, University of Oslo, POB 1122, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway

    Petter Laake

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Correspondence to Ole P. Ottersen.

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Takumi, Y., Ramírez-León, V., Laake, P. et al. Different modes of expression of AMPA and NMDA receptors in hippocampal synapses. Nat Neurosci 2, 618–624 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/10172

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