Summary
An analysis has been made of the staining properties of phosphotungstic acid (PTA) on non-osmicated, glutaraldehyde fixed brain tissue, with regard to differences arising from the commercial source of the PTA, its water content, methanol as opposed to ethanol dehydration, and perfusion as contrasted with immersion fixation. The quality of the micrographs varied depending on the source of the PTA, the principal component of the synaptic junctions to be affected being the cleft material. Variation in the water content of the PTA solution was also reflected in the appearance of the cleft material, tissues stained with high hydration PTA resulting in cleft material with considerably less electronopacity than the corresponding dense projections and postsynaptic thickening. Low hydration PTA produced the typical picture of cleft densities. Methanol dehydration was unsuccessful in this series of experiments, while immersion and perfusion fixation yielded comparable results.
Synaptic junctions from cerebral cortex, cerebellar cortex, thalamus, hippocampus and spinal cord of the rat were examined. In addition to the typical paramembranous densities, subjunctional bodies are present in cerebellar and hippocampal junctions, and subsynaptic profiles in some spinal cord ones. The spinal cord junctions are characterized by a prominent synaptic plate and by a postsynaptic thickening which in places appears to be separated from the underlying postsynaptic membrane.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adinolfi, A.M.: The organization of synaptic junctions in cat putamen. Brain Res. 32, 53–67 (1971)
Adinolfi, A.M.: The organization of paramembranous densities during postnatal maturation of synaptic junctions in the cerebral cortex. Exp. Neurol. 34, 383–393 (1972)
Aghajanian, G.K., Bloom, F.E.: The formation of synaptic junctions in developing rat brain: a quantitative electron microscopic study. Brain Res. 6, 716–727 (1967)
Black, I.B., Hendry, I.A., Iversen, L.L.: Trans-synaptic regulation of growth and development of adrenergic neurones in a mouse sympathetic ganglion. Brain Res. 34, 229–240 (1971)
Bloom, F.E.: The formation of synaptic junctions in developing rat brain. Structure and function of synapses (Pappas, G.D., Purpura, D.P. eds.), p. 101–120. New York: Raven Press 1972
Bloom, F.E., Aghajanian, G.K.: Cytochemistry of synapses: a selective staining method for electron microscopy. Science 154, 1575–1577 (1966)
Bloom, F.E., Aghajanian, G.K.: Fine structural and cytochemical analysis of the staining of synaptic junctions with phosphotungstic acid. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 22, 361–375 (1968)
Bloom, F.E., Iversen, L.L., Schmitt, F.O.: Macromolecules in synaptic function. Neurosci. Res. Program Bull. 8, 325–455 (1970)
Doran, G.A., Jones, D.G.: Synaptic ultrastructure in a marsupial, Setonix brachyurus. Experientia (Basel) 27, 1198–1199 (1971)
Garey, R., Harper, J., Best, J.B., Goodman, A.B.: Preparative resolution and identification of synaptic components of rat neocortex. J. Neurobiol. 3, 163–195 (1972)
Jones, D.G.: The morphology of the contact region of vertebrate synaptosomes. Z. Zellforsch. 95, 263–279 (1969)
Jones, D.G.: A further contribution to the study of the contact region of Octopus synaptosomes. Z. Zellforsch. 103, 48–60 (1970a)
Jones, D.G.: A study of the presynaptic network of Octopus synaptosomes. Brain Res. 20, 145–158 (1970b)
Jones, D.G., Brearley, R.F.: Further studies on synaptic junctions. I. Ultrastructural features in intact rat cerebral cortex. Z. Zellforsch. 125, 415–431 (1972a)
Jones, D.G., Brearley, R.F.: Further studies on synaptic junctions. II. A comparison of synaptic ultrastructure in fractionated and intact cerebral cortex. Z. Zellforsch. 125, 432–447 (1972b)
Jones, D.G., Brearley, R.F.: An analysis of some aspects of synaptosomal ultrastructure using serial sections. Z. Zellforsch. 140, 481–496 (1973)
Jones, D.G., Brearley, R.F., Doran, G.A.: The organization of dense projections in synapses of the brain of a marsupial, Setonix brachyurus. Anat. Rec. 174, 39–46 (1972)
Jones, D.G., Revell, E.: The postnatal development of the synapse: a morphological approach utilizing synaptosomes. II. Paramembranous densities. Z. Zellforsch. 111, 195–208 (1970)
Milhaud, M., Pappas, G.D.: Postsynaptic bodies in the habenula and interpeduncular nuclei of the cat. J. Cell Biol. 30, 437–441 (1966a)
Milhaud, M., Pappas, G.D.: The fine structure of neurons and synapses of the habenula of the cat with special reference to subjunctional bodies. Brain Res. 3, 158–173 (1966b)
Nicholson, J.L., Altman, J.: The effects of early hypo- and hyperthyroidism on the development of the rat cerebellar cortex. II. Synaptogenesis in the molecular layer. Brain Res. 44, 25–36 (1972)
Pfenninger, K., Sandri, C., Akert, K., Eugster, C.H.: Contribution to the problem of structural organization of the presynaptic area. Brain Res. 12, 10–18 (1969)
West, M.J., Coleman, P.D., Wyss, U.R.: A computerized method of determining the number of synaptic contacts in a volume of cerebral cortex. J. Microscopy 95, 277–283 (1972)
Woodward, D.J., Hoffer, B.J., Siggins, G.R., Bloom, F.E.: The ontogenetic development of synaptic junctions, synaptic activation and responsiveness to neurotransmitter substances in rat cerebellar Purkinje cells. Brain Res. 34, 73–97 (1971)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported in part by a grant from the Australian Research Grants Committee. I would like to thank Mr. R.F. Brearley for his excellent technical assistance, and Mr. D. Stuart and Mrs. Z. Gobby for their help with the photography.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jones, D.G. Some factors affecting the PTA staining of synaptic junctions. Z.Zellforsch 143, 301–312 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307417
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307417