Computer assisted detection of axonal bouton structural plasticity in in vivo time-lapse images

The ability to measure minute structural changes in neural circuits is essential for long-term in vivo imaging studies. Here, we propose a methodology for detection and measurement of structural changes in axonal boutons imaged with time-lapse two-photon laser scanning microscopy (2PLSM). Correlativ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:eLife 2017-10, Vol.6
Main Authors: Gala, Rohan, Lebrecht, Daniel, Sahlender, Daniela A, Jorstad, Anne, Knott, Graham, Holtmaat, Anthony, Stepanyants, Armen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Automation
Axonal plasticity
Axons
Bias
bouton detection
bouton volume
CLEM
Confocal microscopy
Cortex (barrel)
Cortex (somatosensory)
Electron microscopy
Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods
Intravital Microscopy - methods
Mathematical models
Methods
Mice
Microscopy
Microscopy, Electron - methods
Microscopy, Fluorescence - methods
Neural circuitry
Neural networks
Neuroimaging
Neuroscience
Presynapse
Presynaptic Terminals - physiology
Presynaptic Terminals - ultrastructure
Software
Somatosensory Cortex - ultrastructure
structural plasticity
synaptic strength
Time
time-lapse imaging
Time-Lapse Imaging - methods
Tools and Resources
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Summary:The ability to measure minute structural changes in neural circuits is essential for long-term in vivo imaging studies. Here, we propose a methodology for detection and measurement of structural changes in axonal boutons imaged with time-lapse two-photon laser scanning microscopy (2PLSM). Correlative 2PLSM and 3D electron microscopy (EM) analysis, performed in mouse barrel cortex, showed that the proposed method has low fractions of false positive/negative bouton detections (2/0 out of 18), and that 2PLSM-based bouton weights are correlated with their volumes measured in EM ( = 0.93). Next, the method was applied to a set of axons imaged in quick succession to characterize measurement uncertainty. The results were used to construct a statistical model in which bouton addition, elimination, and size changes are described probabilistically, rather than being treated as deterministic events. Finally, we demonstrate that the model can be used to quantify significant structural changes in boutons in long-term imaging experiments.
ISSN:2050-084X
2050-084X
DOI:10.7554/elife.29315