Reconstruction of interaction between astrocytes and synapses using serial block face scanning electron microscopy

Yuna Oh1, Kyungeun Lee1*

1Advanced analysis center, Korea Institute of Sciences and Technology, Seoul, Korea

E-mail: ohyu1014@kist.re.kr

In the nervous system, a synapse is a point of connection from one neuron to another. Synapses are essential to neuronal function. The cell membrane of pre-synaptic neurons and post-synaptic neurons perform signal transmission through the action of synaptic vesicle. The function and efficacy of synaptic transmission is determined by pre- and post-synaptic components as well as by the surrounding environment interacting with synapses. Especially, Astrocytes also exchange information with synaptic neurons, respond to synaptic activity, and in turn regulate neuro transmission. The synapse is well known to plays a role in the formation of memory. Changes in synaptic signaling are most commonly associated with a long-term depression (LTD).

In this study, before analyzing the structural changes of the synapse and astrocyte interaction on the disease model, we performed the 3D reconstruction of the synapse and astrocyte interaction using the normal model. The modified large-volume SBF-EM (serial block face electron microscopy) was used to imaging of large brain area. Then, SBF-EM was performed by partial area.

Keyword: synapse, SBF-SEM, astrocyte, large-volume sample preparation