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Three-Dimensional Electron Microscopy Imaging of Spines in Non-human Primates

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Transmission Electron Microscopy Methods for Understanding the Brain

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 115))

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Abstract

Dendritic spines are the main sites of excitatory glutamatergic synapses in the central nervous system. Morphological, ultrastructura l, and numerical changes in dendritic spines are associated with long-term potentiation or depression of normal synaptic transmission, and with various brain diseases and pathological conditions that affect glutamatergic transmission. Thus, a deep understanding of the structural changes that affect dendritic spines in normal and pathological conditions is a key element of structure-function relationships that regulate synaptic transmission in the mammalian brain. In this chapter, we describe the procedure used in our laboratory that combines immuno-electron microscopy methods (to identify specific populations of presynaptic terminals or dendritic spines), serial ultrathin sectioning, and three-dimensional electron microscopy reconstruction to analyze ultrastructural and morphometric changes of individual dendritic spines in rhesus monkey models of brain diseases, most specifically related to Parkinson’s disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    R. M. Villalba, J. F. Paré & Y. Smith

  2. Udall Centers of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease Research, Atlanta, GA, USA

    R. M. Villalba, J. F. Paré & Y. Smith

  3. Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Y. Smith

Authors
  1. R. M. Villalba
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  2. J. F. Paré
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  3. Y. Smith
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. M. Villalba .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Physiolog, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Elisabeth J. Van Bockstaele

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Villalba, R.M., Paré, J.F., Smith, Y. (2015). Three-Dimensional Electron Microscopy Imaging of Spines in Non-human Primates. In: Van Bockstaele, E. (eds) Transmission Electron Microscopy Methods for Understanding the Brain. Neuromethods, vol 115. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/7657_2015_97

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/7657_2015_97

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3638-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3640-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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