Formation and Maintenance of Functional Spines in the Absence of Presynaptic Glutamate Release

Summary

Dendritic spines are the major transmitter reception compartments of glutamatergic synapses in most principal neurons of the mammalian brain and play a key role in the function of nerve cell circuits. The formation of functional spine synapses is thought to be critically dependent on presynaptic glutamatergic signaling. By analyzing CA1 pyramidal neurons in mutant hippocampal slice cultures that are essentially devoid of presynaptic transmitter release, we demonstrate that the formation and maintenance of dendrites and functional spines are independent of synaptic glutamate release.

Highlights

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  Elimination of presynaptic transmitter release in hippocampal organotypic slices

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  Dendrite growth and maintenance are independent of presynaptic glutamate release

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  Spine formation and maintenance are independent of presynaptic glutamate release

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  Recruitment of NMDA/AMPA receptors is independent of presynaptic glutamate release

Abstract

Spines are major neurotransmitter reception compartments of nerve cells. Contrary to the currently held dogma, Sigler et al. show that spine formation in the hippocampus is independent of synaptic neurotransmitter release, indicating that brain circuits are established by activity-independent cellular programs.