Journal
NEURON
Volume 52, Issue 4, Pages 635-648Publisher
CELL PRESS
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.10.025
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Funding
- NIGMS NIH HHS [R24 GM065473, GM65473] Funding Source: Medline
- NINDS NIH HHS [NS-34045, R01 NS034045] Funding Source: Medline
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We combined local photolysis of caged compounds with fluorescence imaging to visualize molecular diffusion within dendrites of cerebellar Purkinje cells. Diffusion of a volume marker, fluorescein dextran, within spiny dendrites was remarkably slow in comparison to its diffusion in smooth dendrites. Computer simulations indicate that this retardation is due to a transient trapping of molecules within dendritic spines, yielding anomalous diffusion. We considered the influence of spine trapping on the diffusion of calcium ions (Ca2+) and inositol-1, 4,5-triphospate (IP3) two synaptic second messengers. Diffusion Of IP3 was strongly influenced by the presence of dendritic spines, while Ca2+ was removed so rapidly that it could not diffuse far enough to be trapped. We conclude that an important function of dendritic spines may be to trap chemical signals and thereby create slowed anomalous diffusion within dendrites.
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