• 1502112733187775156311626235927033307PublicAssets/3399
    Synapses in culture
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    Synapses in culture

    3399

    Cultured hippocampal neurons grown on a substrate of glial cells (astrocytes). The glial cells form the pink/brown underlayment in this image. The tan threads are the neurons. The round tan balls are synapses, the points where neurons meet and communicate with each other. The cover slip underlying the cells is green. Neurons in culture can be used to study synaptic plasticity, activity-dependent protein turnover, and other topics in neuroscience.
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    Internal NoteFrom Tom D: For the image below, all the information is correct. These are cultured hippocampal neurons grown on a substrate of glial cells (astrocytes). In tissues these cells form very elaborate sheet-like projections that can wrap cells. In this case the cells form a very flat surface the neurons like to grow on (from a similar sample I took the image of a lone cultured astrocyte and you can see it in the NCMIR image gallery (look how flat the processes are in culture). We use cultures like this for a host of applications, including studying synaptic plasticity and activity-dependent protein turnover. _________________________ Alisa Zapp Machalek Science Writing, Editing and Education National Institutes of Health/NIGMS 301-496-7301 phone alisa.machalek@nih.gov Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, Order free, science education materials from http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/order/ ? Please conserve From: Machalek, Alisa Zapp (NIH/NIGMS) [E] Sent: Monday, October 28, 2013 11:16 AM To: deerinck@ncmir.ucsd.edu Cc: Reynolds, Sharon (NIH/NIGMS) [C]; Machalek, Alisa Zapp (NIH/NIGMS) [E] Subject: caption check--SEM of neural synapses in culture Here?s another one for you (and will be the last for a while). My notes indicate that the coverslip is green, glial cells are rose-brown and neurons are khaki (bulbous parts are synapses). Is that correct? What organ and organism is shown? Also, pardon my skepticism, but the rose-brown is so flat that it looks more like a type of fabric than cells. Is that just how the glial cells grow in culture? What kind of glial cells are they--astrocytes? Is there anything else you can tell me about why you took this picture, what it demonstrates, or what innovative technology it showcases? Thanks again, Alisa
    Keywordsnerve cells
    SourceNational Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research
    Date2012-08-27 00:00:00
    Credit LineNational Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research
    Investigator
    Record TypePhotograph
    Topic Area(s);#Cells;#
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    StatusActive

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