Dynamic alteration of the synaptic strength is one of the most important processes occurring in the nervous system. Combination of electrophysiology, confocal imaging and molecular biology led to significant advances in this research field. Yet, a progress in this area, in particular in studies of changes in the quantal behavior of central synapses and impact of glial cells on individual synapses, is hampered by technical difficulties of resolving small quantal synaptic currents. In this paper we will show how the technique of non-enzymatic vibro-dissociation, which enables to isolate living neurons avoiding artifacts of cell culture and preserving functional synapse, can be used to obtain a valuable information on fine details and mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. In particular, we will describe our recent results on Ca2+-dependent modulation of the postsynaptic AMPA and NMDA receptors in the individual synaptic boutons.
Keywords: ATP receptor; Astrocyte; NMDA receptor; Quantal synaptic current; Receptor trafficking; Single-synapse response; Synaptic strength; Vesicular release.
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