Ultrastructural analysis of chemical synapses in cultured wild type Drosophila embryonic neurons = 초파리 배자 신경세포의 화학적 신경연접 미세구조

Abstract

To identify the structural basis of mutations that affect synaptic transmission we have begun quantitative ultrastructural descriptions of synapses in cultured Drosophila embryonic neurons. In wild-type cultures, synapses are distinguished by the parallel arrangement of a thickened pre- and post synaptic membrane separated by a synaptic cleft. The presynaptic active zones and postsynaptic densities are defined by electron dense material close to the membrane. Presynaptic regions are also characterized by the presence of one or more electron dense regions, presynaptic densities, around which a variable number of small, clear core synaptic vesicles (mean nm in diameter) are clustered. Subsets of these vesicles are in direct contact with either the presynaptic density or the membrane and are considered morphologically docked. A small number of larger, dense core vesicles are also observed in most presynaptic profiles.