This protocol details how to quantify synapse number both in dissociated neuronal culture and in brain sections using immunocytochemistry. Using compartment-specific antibodies, we label presynaptic terminals as well as sites of postsynaptic specialization. We define synapses as points of colocalization between the signals generated by these markers.
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Method Article
Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number
In This Article
Summary
Abstract
One of the most important goals in neuroscience is to understand the molecular cues that instruct early stages of synapse formation. As such it has become imperative to develop objective approaches to quantify changes in synaptic connectivity. Starting from sample fixation, this protocol details how to quantify synapse number both in dissociated neuronal culture and in brain sections using immunocytochemistry. Using compartment-specific antibodies, we label presynaptic terminals as well as sites of postsynaptic specialization. We define synapses as points of colocalization between the signals generated by these markers. The number of these colocalizations is quantified using a plug in Puncta Analyzer (written by Bary Wark, available upon request, c.eroglu@cellbio.duke.edu) under the ImageJ analysis software platform. The synapse assay described in this protocol can be applied to any neural tissue or culture preparation for which you have selective pre- and postsynaptic markers. This synapse assay is a valuable tool that can be widely utilized in the study of synaptic development.
Protocol
Solutions to Prepare:
- Antibody Buffer:
- 150 mM NaCl
- 50 mM Tris-Base (Fisher, Cat. No: BP152-5, 50 mM) - 1.21 g
- 1% BSA (Sigma, Cat. No: A2153, 1%) - 2.0 g
- 100 mM L-lysine (Sigma, Cat. No: L-1137, 100 mM) - 3.65 g
- Adjust pH to 7.4
- 0.04% Azide
- Adjust volume to 200 ml with distilled H2O.
- Filter through 0.22μm filter (Millipore, Cat. No: SCGPU02RE).
- PFA Diluant:
-
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Discussion
The synapse assay described above is based in the context of our experimental goals, wherein we focus largely on excitatory projections of RGCs, either in purified culture or in brain section. We have provided a reference table listing antibodies that work well for labeling excitatory synapses (Table 1).
This synapse assay can be adapted to quantify synapse number of any neuronal population or any other synaptic subtype for which there is a selective pre- and postsynaptic marker. For example,.......
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Disclosures
No conflicts of interest declared.
Acknowledgements
Puncta Analyzer Plug-in for Image J was written by Barry Wark (current address: Physion Consulting) in the lab of Ben A. Barres (Stanford University).
Funding;
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
- The Esther A. and Joseph Klingenstein Fund, Inc.
- Broad Biomedical Research Foundation
- Cure for Huntington s Disease Initiative
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Materials
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presynaptic | Synapsin | Rabbit | Polyclonal |
| Synapsin | Mouse | Monoclonal | Synaptic Systems |
| Bassoon | Mouse | Monoclonal | Assay Designs |
| Bassoon | Guinea Pig | Polyclonal | Synaptic Systems |
| Synaptotagmin 1 | Rabbit | Polyclonal | Synaptic Systems |
| Synaptobrevin 2 (C1.69.1) | Mouse | Monoclonal | Synaptic Systems |
| Synaptophysin (C1.7.2) | Mouse | Monoclonal | Synaptic Systems |
| VGlut1 | Mouse | Monoclonal | Millipore |
| VGlut1 | Guinea pig | Polyclonal | Millipore |
| VGlut2 | Guinea pig | Polyclonal | Millipore |
| Postsynaptic | PSD-95 (6G6-1C9 clone) | Mouse | Monoclonal |
| PSD-95 | Rabbit | Polyclonal | Zymed |
| Homer | Mouse | Monoclonal | Synaptic Systems |
| Homer | Rat | Polyclonal | Millipore |
| Gephyrin | Rabbit | Polyclonal | Synaptic Systems |
| Gephyrin | Mouse | Monoclonal | Synaptic Systems |
| Table 1: Lists examples of good pre- and postsynaptic markers that we have successfully utilized in our synapse assay. Be aware that this is not an exhaustive list of all available markers. Y = Yes, N = No, N.D. = Not Determined. | |||
| PBS | Invitrogen | 20012-027 | |
| poly-d-lysine | Sigma-Aldrich | P6407 | |
| Laminin | Cultrex | 3400-010-01 | |
| Triton X-100 | Roche Diagnostics Gmbh | 9002-93-1 | |
| Normal Goat Serum | GIBCO, by Life Technologies | 16210 | |
| VectaShield with DAPI | Vector Laboratories | H-1200 | |
| OCT | Tissue-Tek | 4583 | |
| Tris-Base (50 mM) | Fisher Scientific | BP152-5 | |
| Bovine Serum Albumin | Sigma-Aldrich | A2153 | |
| l-lysine | Sigma-Aldrich | L-1137 | |
| 16% PFA solution | Electron Microscopy Sciences | 15711 | |
| Granular PFA | Electron Microscopy Sciences | 19210 | |
| 24-well culture plate | Falcon BD | 35-3047 | |
| Goat anti-mouse Alexa conjugated antibodies | Invitrogen | --- | |
| 12mm, No. 0 glass coverslips | Karl Hecht Gmbh | 1105209 | |
| No. 1.5 glass coverslip (for slices) | VWR international | 48393241 | |
| Glass slides | VWR international | 48311-703 |
References
- Barres, B. A., Silverstein, B. E., Corey, D. P., Chun, L. L. Y. Immunological, morphological, and electrophysiological variation among retinal ganglion cells purified by panning. Neuron. 1, 791-803 (1988).
- Meyer-Franke, A., Kaplan, M. R., Pfrieger, F. W., Barres, B. A.
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