Ultrastructure of synapses of human cerebral cortex in the old age

Abstract

In the present electron-microscopic study, changes of ultrastructure of synapses in the sensory-motor and frontal cerebral cortex in humans of old age are demonstrated. Abnormalities of distribution of synaptic vesicles in the presynaptic ending and changes of mechanisms of their rapprochement and attachment to thepresynaptic membrane were found. Analysis of the obtained results suggests that disturbed interaction between synaptic vesicles and presynaptic membrane represents a stage preceding the destruction and disappearance of the synapse

Keywords

• synapse
• age-related changes
• functional asynapsy
• synaptic pathology