<p><a href="http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v10/n3/abs/nn1849.html">Vesicle count</a> and <a href="http://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/11/2753.short">spine morphology</a> are two of the better-known predictors of synaptic strength.  But they are not the whole story.</p>

<p>Glia, like astrocytes <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197018610000823">can also modulate synaptic strength</a> by releasing their own neurotransmitter or co-agonist, but you need more than just images to detect that process.  There is also the matter of <a href="http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v2/n5/abs/nn0599_454.html">receptor distribution</a> in the postsynaptic cell inside the synapse.  Even if you make more vesicles, it won't matter if there's not enough receptors.  It also depends on how much agonist, co-agonist, and antagonist are present, which could be the result of any particular molecular signaling cascade.  There are also modulators which can increase or decrease the effectiveness of a particular receptor.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-06T19:15:02.300Z
2014-04-06T19:15:02.300Z
Keegan Keplinger
<p>In the following EM image (1um scale), there are several synapses:</p>

<p><a href="http://synapses.clm.utexas.edu/atlas/1_6_2.stm">Image</a> or <a href="http://synapses.clm.utexas.edu/atlas/1-6-2.bmp">HD Version</a></p>

<p>What information about the synaptic strengths can be extracted from this image?</p>

<p>Does vesicle count contain information?
What about the cross sectional "length" of the synaptic cleft?
If serial sections were used to reconstruct a 3D version of a synapse, would the surface area of the synapse reflect the strength of the synapse?</p>

<neuroscience><neuroanatomy><ltp>
What can be inferred about the strength of the synapse from an electron microscope image?
Justas
# What can be inferred about the strength of the synapse from an electron microscope image?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-03)

In the following EM image (1um scale), there are several synapses:

[Image](http://synapses.clm.utexas.edu/atlas/1_6_2.stm) or [HD Version](http://synapses.clm.utexas.edu/atlas/1-6-2.bmp)

What information about the synaptic strengths can be extracted from this image?

Does vesicle count contain information?
What about the cross sectional "length" of the synaptic cleft?
If serial sections were used to reconstruct a 3D version of a synapse, would the surface area of the synapse reflect the strength of the synapse?

**Tags:** neuroscience, neuroanatomy, ltp


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-04-06. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

[Vesicle count](http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v10/n3/abs/nn1849.html) and [spine morphology](http://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/11/2753.short) are two of the better-known predictors of synaptic strength. But they are not the whole story.

Glia, like astrocytes [can also modulate synaptic strength](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197018610000823) by releasing their own neurotransmitter or co-agonist, but you need more than just images to detect that process. There is also the matter of [receptor distribution](http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v2/n5/abs/nn0599_454.html) in the postsynaptic cell inside the synapse. Even if you make more vesicles, it won't matter if there's not enough receptors. It also depends on how much agonist, co-agonist, and antagonist are present, which could be the result of any particular molecular signaling cascade. There are also modulators which can increase or decrease the effectiveness of a particular receptor.


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