Optical monitoring of synaptic vesicle trafficking in ribbon synapses

Cristina Guatimosim, Henrique Von Gersdorff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Synaptic transmission constitutes the major basis of communication among nerve cells. Upon nerve terminal depolarisation, calcium influx triggers the exocytosis of synaptic vesicles at active zones. Vesicles are then retrieved by endocytosis, recycled and refilled with neurotransmitter. Fluorescent styryl dyes have proven very useful as tools for studying several aspects of the synaptic vesicle cycle. Here, we review recent imaging studies using styryl FM dyes and bipolar cells of goldfish retina, which have a giant synaptic terminal containing ribbon-type active zones. Optical techniques applied to this unique synaptic terminal have provided novel insights into the trafficking of synaptic vesicles during and following strong stimulation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)307-312
Number of pages6
JournalNeurochemistry International
Volume41
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Fluorescent styryl dyes
  • Synaptic transmission
  • Trafficking of synaptic vesicles

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology

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