Abstract
The structure of the actin cytoskeleton in dendritic spines is thought to underlie some forms of synaptic plasticity. We have used fixed and live-cell imaging in rat primary hippocampal cultures to characterize the synaptic dynamics of the F-actin binding protein inositol trisphosphate 3-kinase A (IP3K), which is localized in the spines of pyramidal neurons derived from the CA1 region. IP3K was intensely concentrated as puncta in spine heads when Ca2+ influx was low, but rapidly and reversibly redistributed to a striated morphology in the main dendrite when Ca2+ influx was high. Glutamate stimulated the exit of IP3K from spines within 10 s, and re-entry following blockage of Ca2+ influx commenced within a minute; IP3K appeared to remain associated with F-actin throughout this process. Ca 2+-triggered F-actin relocalization occurred in about 90% of the cells expressing IP3K endogenously, and was modulated by the synaptic activity of the cultures, suggesting that it is a physiological process. F-actin relocalization was blocked by cytochalasins, jasplakinolide and by the over-expression of actin fused to green fluorescent protein. We also used deconvolution microscopy to visualize the relationship between F-actin and endoplasmic reticulum inside dendritic spines, revealing a delicate microorganization of IP3K near the Ca2+ stores. We conclude that Ca2+ influx into the spines of CA1 pyramidal neurons triggers the rapid and reversible retraction of F-actin from the dendritic spine head. This process contributes to changes in spine F-actin shape and content during synaptic activity, and might also regulate spine IP3 signals.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 2491-2503 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | European Journal of Neuroscience |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2006 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- CA1
- Cytochalasin
- Hippocampus
- Inositol
- Rat
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience