Skip to main content
. 2015 Jan 7;35(1):112–127. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3426-14.2015

Figure 5.

Figure 5.

Excitatory synapses in layer 2–3 neuropil of LPFC and V1. A, B, Electron micrographs of layers 2–3 neuropil showing examples of synapses (arrows) and their presynaptic boutons (shaded structures) and postsynaptic spines (Sp) and dendrites (Den). A, Electron micrograph of LPFC neuropil showing three boutons (blue) each forming an asymmetric (excitatory) synapse with a spine (Sp1, Sp2, Sp3) and one bouton (green) forming an asymmetric synapse on a dendrite (Den). a1, a2, Serial images through one spine (Sp1) receiving one perforated asymmetric synapse. B, Electron micrograph of V1 neuropil showing two boutons (blue) each forming an asymmetric synapse with a spine (Sp1, Sp2), three boutons (shaded green) each forming an asymmetric synapse on a dendrite (Den1, Den2, Den3), and one bouton (shaded red) forming two symmetric (inhibitory) synapses: one on a spine (Sp1) and one on a dendrite (Den4). b1, b2, Serial images through one spine (Sp1) receiving one perforated asymmetric synapse and one symmetric synapse. Scale bar, 0.5 μm. C, Pie charts show proportions of asymmetric and symmetric synapses in layers 2–3 neuropil of LPFC and V1, stereologically counted using 3D serial electron microscopy. Middle bar graph shows proportions of asymmetric synapses formed on spines (blue) and dendrites (green). D, Surface area of PSDs of total asymmetric synapses, and the subpopulation formed on spines and dendrites. Asymmetric synapses formed on spines had significantly larger PSD areas in LPFC than in V1. *p = 0.03. Error bars indicate SEM.