Summary
The number and freeze-fracture membrane organization of spines on Purkinje cell dendrites were studied in rats after destruction, by intraperitoneal injection of 3-acetyl-pyridine (3-AP), of the climbing fiber afferents to the cerebellum. The results obtained show that: (1) there is a 1.6 fold increase in the total number of dendritic spines in the 3-AP-treated animals as compared to controls, but no change in the total number of spine synaptic profiles; (2) the spines from main dendrites in both control and 3-AP-treated animals have more than 1,000 IMP/μm2 of P-face membrane; and, (3) the spines formed on Purkinje cell dendrites in the absence of their presynaptic axons have the same P-face membrane organization (i.e. more than 1,000 IMP/μm2) as spines normally innervated by afferent climbing fibers. These data suggest that each type of Purkinje cell spine has a specific P-face membrane organization which does not appear to be influenced by presynaptic terminals.
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Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, Grant 3.668.80
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Baetens, D., Garcia-Segura, L.M. & Perrelet, A. Effects of climbing fiber destruction on large dendrite spines of purkinje cells. Exp Brain Res 48, 256–262 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237221
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237221