• Applied Microscopy
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• 제51권
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• pp.2.1-2.7
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• 2021

Synaptic vesicles, which are endogenous to neurotransmitters, are involved in exocytosis by active potentials and release neurotransmitters. Synaptic vesicles used in neurotransmitter release are reused via endocytosis to maintain a pool of synaptic vesicles. Synaptic vesicles show different types of exo- and endocytosis depending on animal species, type of nerve cell, and electrical activity. To accurately understand the dynamics of synaptic vesicles, direct observation of synaptic vesicles is required; however, it was difficult to observe synaptic vesicles of size 40-50 nm in living neurons. The exo-and endocytosis of synaptic vesicles was confirmed by labeling the vesicles with a fluorescent agent and measuring the changes in fluorescence intensity. To date, various methods of labeling synaptic vesicles have been proposed, and each method has its own characteristics, strength, and drawbacks. In this study, we introduce methods that can measure presynaptic activity and describe the characteristics of each technique.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.55-61
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• 2018

The synaptic vesicle is a specialized structure in presynaptic terminals that stores various neurotransmitters. The actin filament has been proposed for playing an important role in mobilizing synaptic vesicles. To understand the role of actin filament on synaptic vesicle pooling, we characterized synaptic vesicles and actin filament after treatment of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or Latrunculin A on primary cultured neuron from rat embryo hippocampus. Western blots revealed that BDNF treatment increased the expression of synapsin I protein, but Latrunculin A treatment decreased the synapsin I protein expression. The increased expression of synapsin I after BDNF disappeared by the treatment of Latrunculin A. Three-dimensional (3D) tomography of synapse showed that more synaptic vesicles localized near the active zone and total number of synaptic vesicles increased after treatment of BDNF. But the number of synaptic vesicle was 2.5-fold reduced in presynaptic terminals and the loss of filamentous network was observed after Latrunculin A application. The treatment of Latruculin A after preincubation of BDNF group showed that synaptic vesicle number was similar to that of control group, but filamentous structures were not restored. These data suggest that the actin filament plays a significant role in synaptic vesicles pooling in presynaptic terminals.

• 한국동물학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.107-123
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• 1983

The globus pallidus of normal cats were prepared for electron microscopic study following perfusion with a mixture of 1% paraformaldehyde and 1% glutaraldehyde solution. Neurons of two size categories were identified in 1 $\\mu$m araldite sections and their ultrastructural characteristics were studied in adjacent thin section. 1. Large neurons ($30 \\mum \\times 45 \\mum$ in diameter) had extensive areas of rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulm, abundant perinuclear Golgi complex, numerous mitochondria and lipofusin granule, and had a large spherical nucleus with shallow indentation of nuclear manbrane. Small neurons ($17 \\mum \\times 27 \\mum$ in diameter) had poorly rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, moderate number of mitochondria and randomly distributed Golgi complex. The nuclear envelope of this cell frequently showed multiple deep invagination. 2. Three types of axo-somatic synapses were identified on the basis of the size and shape of vesicle in the axon terminal and the symmetrical or asymmetrical thickening at the synaptic site. Type I synaptic terminal shows an even distribution of round and oval synaptic vesicles, and has a symmetrical synaptic thickening. Type II axon terminals reveal mostly round and pleomorphic vesicles and a few vesicles were localized near the presynaptic membrane in pale axoplasm and its synaptic thickening were symmetric. Type III axon terminals contain round vesicles, which were aggregated in the axoplasm, and has a asymmetrical synaptic thickening. 3. The majority of axo-somatic contact with the large and small neurons were type I, and type II and III synapes were rare.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.21-34
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• 1988

Comparative study on the synaptic types of the nuclei accumbens septi and fundus striati of the chick and the rat was carried out. Basic synaptic types were established according to the size of synaptic vesicles, development of synaptic vesicles, development of synaptic thickening, kind of postsynaptic structures, etc. Comparing the synaptic types and appearance-ratio within the neuropils, the following results were obtained (see the data in the Table 1). 1. In the nucleus accumbens of the rat, the axo-spinous synapses are far less than those in the nucleus fundus striati (13.7%/68.2%). 2. In the nucleus accumbens, there found much more axo-dendritic types(II, III and V) than those appearing in the nucleus fundus striati(79.1%/27.1%). 3. In the nucleus accumbens of the chick, on the contrary to the case of the rat, more axo-spinous types(70.1%/31.4%) and less axo-dendritic types(12.3%/60.0%) were found as compared to those appearing in the nucleus fundus striati. 4. There found no large-sized synaptic vesicles in the chick nuclei accumbens septi and the fundus striati.

• BMB Reports
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2009

Synaptic vesicles (SVs) are key structures for synaptic transmission in neurons. Numerous membrane-associated proteins are sorted from the Golgi complex to the axon and the presynaptic terminal. Protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions are involved with SV targeting in neurons. Interestingly, many SV proteins have lipid binding capability, primarily with either cholesterol or phosphoinositides (PIs). As examples, the major SV protein synaptophysin can bind to cholesterol, a major lipid component in SVs, while several other SV proteins, including synaptotagmin, can bind to PIs. Thus, lipid-protein binding plays a key role for the SV targeting of synaptic proteins. In addition, numerous SV proteins can be palmitoylated. Palmitoylation is thought to be another synaptic targeting signal. Here, we briefly describe the relationship between lipid binding and SV targeting.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권11호
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• pp.936-940
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• 2015

Synapsins were the first presynaptic proteins identified and have served as the flagship of the presynaptic protein field. Here we review recent studies demonstrating that different members of the synapsin family play different roles at presynaptic terminals employing different types of synaptic vesicles. The structural underpinnings for these functions are just beginning to be understood and should provide a focus for future efforts.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.223-230
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• 2004

초파리 돌연변이를 이용한 신경연접에서의 신경충격의 전달을 알아보기 위하여 배양한 초파리 배자 신경세포의 신경연접 미세구조를 관찰하여 분석하였다. 배양된 Wild-type 초파리 배자 신경세포의 신경연접(synapse)은 신경연접간극(synaptic cleft)에 의해 구분되면서 평행하게 뻗어있는 신경연접전 돌기(presynaptic area)의 세포막과 신경연접후 세포(postsynaptic cell)의 세포막 구조에 의해서 확인하였다. Presynaptic active zones과 postsynaptic densities는 각 세포막부분의 전자밀도에 의해 구분하였다. 특히 두 개의 세포막이 서로 근접하여 있으면서, 하나 또는 그 이상의 전자밀도가 높은 presynaptc densities 를 가지고 있고 그 주위에 투명한 신경연접소포들(clear core synaptic vesicles)이 모여있을 경우 이를 신경연접전 돌기로 보았다. 신경연접전 돌기에는 평균 $35.1{\pm}1.44$ nm 직경의 작고 투명한 신경연접소포들이 모여있었다. 신경연접소포들 중 일부는 세포막이나 세포막의 전자밀도가 높은 부분에 직접 접촉하고 있었는데 이를 신경전달물질이 방출되기 직전인 morphologically docked vesicles로 보았다. 이외에도 신경연접전 돌기에서는 내부가 전자밀도가 높은 물질로 채워져 있고 직경이 큰 dense core 신경연접소포들도 관찰할 수 있었다.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.375-382
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• 2008

삼차신경주감각핵에서 치수유래 일차들신경섬유의 종말과 그에 연접하는 연접이전신경종말에 함유된 연접소포들을 형태학적으로 비교하기 위하여 신경추적자(WGA-HRP)를 흰쥐 앞니의 치수강에 주입하여 치수 유래 일차들신경종말을 표식한 후, 투과형 전자현미경을 통한 미세구조적 정량 분석을 실시하였다. 표식된 치수유래 일차들신경종말은 직경이 $45{\sim}55\;nm$인 구형의 소포를 함유하고 있었으며, 일부 직경이 $80{\sim}120\;nm$ 큰 치밀소포가 관찰되기도 하였다. 또한 표식된 신경종말은 다형성 연접소포를 함유하고 있는 연접이전신경종말과 대칭연접을 이루고 있었다. 일차들신경종말의 연접소포들은 긴 지름에 대한 짧은 지름의 비율(form factor)이 $0.6{\sim}0.99$의 분포를 보인 반면, 연접이 전신경종말의 연접소포들은 $0.25{\sim}0.99$까지 다양하게 나타났다. 또한 대부분의 연접이전신경종말은 GABA에 대한 면역양성반응을 보였다. 이상의 결과는 표식된 신경종말과 그에 연접하는 연접이전신경종말의 연접소포는 서로 다른 형태를 보이고 있으며, 또한 그 연접이전신경종말이 억제성 신경전달물질인 GABA를 함유하고 있음을 나타낸다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제45권11호
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• pp.806-819
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• 2022

Synaptic accumulation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) oligomers and their interactions with VAMP2 have been reported to be the basis of synaptic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD). α-Syn mutants associated with familial PD have also been known to be capable of interacting with VAMP2, but the exact mechanisms resulting from those interactions to eventual synaptic dysfunction are still unclear. Here, we investigate the effect of α-Syn mutant oligomers comprising A30P, E46K, and A53T on VAMP2-embedded vesicles. Specifically, A30P and A53T oligomers cluster vesicles in the presence of VAMP2, which is a shared mechanism with wild type α-Syn oligomers induced by dopamine. On the other hand, E46K oligomers reduce the membrane mobility of the planar bilayers, as revealed by single-particle tracking, and permeabilize the membranes in the presence of VAMP2. In the absence of VAMP2 interactions, E46K oligomers enlarge vesicles by fusing with one another. Our results clearly demonstrate that α-Syn mutant oligomers have aberrant effects on VAMP2-embedded vesicles and the disruption types are distinct depending on the mutant types. This work may provide one of the possible clues to explain the α-Syn mutant-type dependent pathological heterogeneity of familial PD.

• 한국동물학회지
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.223-230
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• 1996

Fine structure of the neuromuscular junction in the venomous organ of the spider, Agelena li'mbutq, was studied using high magnification electron microscope. The motor nerve endings at neuromuscular contact area composed of neurons and neuroslial cells were located between musculature and extracellular sheath of the venom gBand. At the synaptic contact between a motor axon and a muscle fiber in the musculature, spherical synaptic vesicles were prominent in the nerve terminal. The sarcoplasm beneath the neuromuscular synapse has a granular appearance and lacks mvofilaments. And the main axon gives off a branch between the muscle fibers. The synaptic regions of this organ are located close to the myofilaments unlike to other chelicerate classes. Moreover the postsvnaptic complex of vesicles and membrane invasinations present in other synaptic legions are absent from these legions in this venomous organ.