In the nervous system synaptic input arrives chiefly on dendrites and their type and distribution have been assumed pivotal in signal integration. We have developed an immunohistochemistry-correlated electron microscopy method - the "mirror" technique - by which synaptic input to entire dendrites of neurochemically identified interneurons can be mapped due preserving high-fidelity tissue ultrastructure. Hence, this approach allows quantitative assessment of morphometric parameters of synaptic inputs along the whole length of dendrites originating from the parent soma. The method exploits the fact that adjoining sections have truncated or cut cell bodies which appear on the common surfaces in a mirror fashion. In one of the sections the histochemical marker of the GABAergic subtype, calbindin was revealed in cell bodies whereas in the other section the remaining part of the very same cell bodies were subjected to serial section electron microscopy to trace and reconstruct the synaptology of entire dendrites. Here we provide exemplary data on the synaptic coverage of two dendrites belonging to the same calbindin-D28K immunopositive interneuron and determine the spatial distribution of asymmetric and symmetric synapses, surface area and volume of the presynaptic boutons, morphometric parameters of synaptic vesicles, and area extent of the active zones.

中文翻译：

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镜像技术在神经化学鉴定GABA-树突状树枝状三维电子显微镜中的应用

在神经系统中，突触输入主要到达树突，其类型和分布被认为是信号整合的关键。我们已经开发了一种与免疫组织化学相关的电子显微镜方法-“镜像”技术-通过此方法可以映射到神经化学识别的中间神经元的整个树突的突触输入，这是由于保留了高保真度的组织超微结构。因此，该方法允许沿着源自亲本体的树突的整个长度对突触输入的形态参数进行定量评估。该方法利用了这样的事实，即相邻的部分具有截短的或切割的细胞体，它们以镜像的方式出现在公共表面上。在其中一部分中，GABA能型亚型的组织化学标记是 钙结合蛋白显示在细胞体中，而在另一部分中，将相同细胞体的其余部分进行连续切片电子显微镜检查，以追踪和重建整个树突的突触。在这里，我们提供了关于属于同一钙结合蛋白-D28K免疫阳性中间神经元的两个树突的突触覆盖率的示例性数据，并确定了不对称和对称突触的空间分布，突触前突的表面积和体积，突触小泡的形态学参数以及面积范围活动区域。