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Axon diameter relates to synaptic bouton size: structural properties define computationally different types of cortical connections in primates

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Abstract

Neural connections are implemented by axons of different diameters, whose spectrum increases depending on species and areas. Axon diameter determines conduction velocity and is proportional to the size of the cell body of origin. We describe that in motor, callosal connections of the monkey thick axons distribute larger boutons than thin axons, suggesting that faster axons also release more neurotransmitter at their termination, probably activating more powerfully their targets.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Retzius Väg 8, Solna, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden

    Giorgio M. Innocenti

  2. Brain and Mind Institute, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Giorgio M. Innocenti

  3. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome SAPIENZA, Rome, Italy

    Roberto Caminiti

  4. Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy

    Roberto Caminiti

Authors
  1. Giorgio M. Innocenti
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  2. Roberto Caminiti
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Correspondence to Giorgio M. Innocenti.

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429_2016_1266_MOESM1_ESM.tif

Supplementary Fig. 1. Thick axon terminals were sampled at a slightly more superficial location than thin axon terminals and unlike the latter they showed a moderate tendency to larger diameter with depth (TIFF 1926 kb)

429_2016_1266_MOESM2_ESM.tif

Supplementary Fig. 2. Linear relation between axonal size and soma size in callosally projecting, neurons in motor and prefrontal areas of the monkey. The neurons were retrogradely filled with dextrane. Modified from Tomasi et al. (2012) (TIFF 1287 kb)

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Innocenti, G.M., Caminiti, R. Axon diameter relates to synaptic bouton size: structural properties define computationally different types of cortical connections in primates. Brain Struct Funct 222, 1169–1177 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-016-1266-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-016-1266-1

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