Presynaptic site dynamics in DsRed2-labeled RGC axon arbors.

Confocal reconstructions of a portion of a control RGC axon arbor branching in the optic tectum of a stage 45 tadpole illustrates how new branches originate preferentially at GFP-synaptobrevin labeled presynaptic sites (yellow) as observed in the double-labeled axons (arrowheads). A single injection of a neutralizing antibody to BDNF (anti-BDNF) into the optic tectum of a stage 45 tadpole induced the disappearance of GFP-synaptobrevin clusters (arrow) and the retraction of the axon branch. Shortening of the distal region of the axon branch (arrowhead) was also induced by the anti-BDNF treatment. Analysis of the number and distribution of GFP-synaptobrevin clusters per axon branch revealed that reducing the levels of BDNF within the optic tectum induces rapid synapse destabilization and elimination (see Hu et al., 2005).

Retinal Gangion Cell Dynamics
Image captured by Bing Hu using Zeiss Pascal Confocal microscope at 63x magnification.	Retinal ganglion cell axon expressing GFP-synaptobrevin (which labels presynaptic sites in green) and DsRed2 (which fills the axon terminal and all its branches in red). Yellow regions reflect locations where the two markers coincide, that is, presynaptic sites on the terminal axon.
BDNF and Branch Dynamics
Presynaptic site dynamics in DsRed2-labeled RGC axon arbors. Confocal reconstructions of a portion of a control RGC axon arbor branching in the optic tectum of a stage 45 tadpole illustrates how new branches originate preferentially at GFP-synaptobrevin labeled presynaptic sites (yellow) as observed in the double-labeled axons (arrowheads). A single injection of a neutralizing antibody to BDNF (anti-BDNF) into the optic tectum of a stage 45 tadpole induced the disappearance of GFP-synaptobrevin clusters (arrow) and the retraction of the axon branch. Shortening of the distal region of the axon branch (arrowhead) was also induced by the anti-BDNF treatment. Analysis of the number and distribution of GFP-synaptobrevin clusters per axon branch revealed that reducing the levels of BDNF within the optic tectum induces rapid synapse destabilization and elimination (see Hu et al., 2005).
Tectal Neuron Dynamics
Image captured by. . .	Tectal neuron expressing GFP-PSD95 (which labels postsynaptic sites in green) and DsRed2 (which fills the dendrite and all its branches in red). Yellow regions reflect locations where the two markers coincide, that is, postsynaptic sites on the tectal neuron dendrite.
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UC Irvine, Neurobiology and Behavior updated 09/15/2006

Retinal Gangion Cell Dynamics

Retinal ganglion cell axon expressing GFP-synaptobrevin (which labels presynaptic sites in green) and DsRed2 (which fills the axon terminal and all its branches in red).

Yellow regions reflect locations where the two markers coincide, that is, presynaptic sites on the terminal axon.

BDNF and Branch Dynamics

Presynaptic site dynamics in DsRed2-labeled RGC axon arbors.

Tectal Neuron Dynamics

Tectal neuron expressing GFP-PSD95 (which labels postsynaptic sites in green) and DsRed2 (which fills the dendrite and all its branches in red).

Yellow regions reflect locations where the two markers coincide, that is, postsynaptic sites on the tectal neuron dendrite.