Dynamic development of the calyx of Held synapse

The calyx of Held is probably the largest synaptic terminal in the brain, forming a unique one-to-one connection in the auditory ventral brainstem. During early development, calyces have many collaterals, whose function is unknown. Using electrophysiological recordings and fast-calcium imaging in br...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2008-04, Vol.105 (14), p.5603-5608
Main Authors: Rodríguez-Contreras, Adrián, van Hoeve, John Silvio Soria, Habets, Ron L.P, Locher, Heiko, Borst, J. Gerard G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Auditory Pathways - growth & development
Auditory Pathways - physiology
Axons
Axons - physiology
Biological Sciences
Brain
Brain stem
Brain Stem - growth & development
Brain Stem - physiology
Calcium
Calyx
Ears & hearing
Electrophysiology
Imaging
Innervation
Microscopy
Neurons
Neuroscience
Neurosciences
Postnatal development
Presynaptic Terminals - physiology
Rats
Rodents
Synapses
Synaptic Transmission
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Summary:The calyx of Held is probably the largest synaptic terminal in the brain, forming a unique one-to-one connection in the auditory ventral brainstem. During early development, calyces have many collaterals, whose function is unknown. Using electrophysiological recordings and fast-calcium imaging in brain slices, we demonstrate that these collaterals are involved in synaptic transmission. We show evidence that the collaterals are pruned and that the pruning already begins 1 week before the onset of hearing. Using two-photon microscopy to image the calyx of Held in neonate rats, we report evidence that both axons and nascent calyces are structurally dynamic, showing the formation, elimination, extension, or retraction of up to 65% of their collaterals within 1 hour. The observed dynamic behavior of axons may add flexibility in the choice of postsynaptic partners and thereby contribute to ensuring that each principal cell eventually is contacted by a single calyx of Held.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.0801395105