Spontaneous Neurotransmitter Release Shapes Dendritic Arbors via Long-Range Activation of NMDA Receptors

TY - JOUR

T1 - Spontaneous Neurotransmitter Release Shapes Dendritic Arbors via Long-Range Activation of NMDA Receptors

AU - Andreae, Laura C

AU - Burrone, Juan

PY - 2015/2/17

Y1 - 2015/2/17

N2 - Spontaneous neurotransmitter release is a core element of synaptic communication in mature neurons, but despite exceptionally high levels of spontaneous vesicle cycling occurring in developing axons, little is known of its function during this period. We now show that high-level, spontaneous axonal release of the neurotransmitter glutamate can signal at long range to NMDA receptors on developing dendrites, prior to synapse formation and, indeed, axodendritic contact. Blockade of NMDA signaling during this early period of spontaneous vesicle cycling leads to a reduction in dendritic arbor complexity, indicating an important role for early spontaneous release in dendritic arbor growth.

AB - Spontaneous neurotransmitter release is a core element of synaptic communication in mature neurons, but despite exceptionally high levels of spontaneous vesicle cycling occurring in developing axons, little is known of its function during this period. We now show that high-level, spontaneous axonal release of the neurotransmitter glutamate can signal at long range to NMDA receptors on developing dendrites, prior to synapse formation and, indeed, axodendritic contact. Blockade of NMDA signaling during this early period of spontaneous vesicle cycling leads to a reduction in dendritic arbor complexity, indicating an important role for early spontaneous release in dendritic arbor growth.

U2 - 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.01.032

DO - 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.01.032

M3 - Article

C2 - 25683710

SN - 2211-1247

VL - 10

SP - 873

EP - 882

JO - Cell Reports

JF - Cell Reports

IS - 6

ER -