Array tomography: 15 years of synaptic analysis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Array tomography

T2 - 15 years of synaptic analysis

AU - Sanchez Avila, Anna

AU - Henstridge, Christopher M.

N1 - Funding Information: Alzheimer's Research UK (ARUK)

PY - 2022/9/23

Y1 - 2022/9/23

N2 - Synapses are minuscule, intricate structures crucial for the correct communication between neurons. In the 125 years since the term synapse was first coined, we have advanced a long way when it comes to our understanding of how they work and what they do.Most of the fundamental discoveries have been invariably linked to advances in technology. However, due to their size, delicate structural integrity and their sheer number, our knowledge of synaptic biology has remained somewhat elusive and their role in neurodegenerative diseases still remains largely unknown. Here, we briefly discuss some of the imaging technologies used to study synapses and focus on the utility of the high-resolution imaging technique array tomography (AT). We introduce the AT technique and highlight some of the ways it is utilised with a particular focus on its power for analysing synaptic composition and pathology in human post-mortem tissue. We also discuss some of the benefits and drawbacks of techniques for imaging synapses and highlight some recent advances in the study of form and function by combining physiology and high-resolution synaptic imaging.

AB - Synapses are minuscule, intricate structures crucial for the correct communication between neurons. In the 125 years since the term synapse was first coined, we have advanced a long way when it comes to our understanding of how they work and what they do.Most of the fundamental discoveries have been invariably linked to advances in technology. However, due to their size, delicate structural integrity and their sheer number, our knowledge of synaptic biology has remained somewhat elusive and their role in neurodegenerative diseases still remains largely unknown. Here, we briefly discuss some of the imaging technologies used to study synapses and focus on the utility of the high-resolution imaging technique array tomography (AT). We introduce the AT technique and highlight some of the ways it is utilised with a particular focus on its power for analysing synaptic composition and pathology in human post-mortem tissue. We also discuss some of the benefits and drawbacks of techniques for imaging synapses and highlight some recent advances in the study of form and function by combining physiology and high-resolution synaptic imaging.

KW - ALS

KW - array tomography

KW - brain

KW - synapses

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85139997639

U2 - 10.1042/NS20220013

DO - 10.1042/NS20220013

M3 - Article

C2 - 36187224

SN - 2059-6553

VL - 6

JO - Neuronal Signaling

JF - Neuronal Signaling

IS - 3

M1 - NS20220013

ER -