Automated 4D analysis of dendritic spine morphology: applications to stimulus-induced spine remodeling and pharmacological rescue in a disease model

Abstract

Abstract Uncovering the mechanisms that regulate dendritic spine morphology has been limited, in part, by the lack of efficient and unbiased methods for analyzing spines. Here, we describe an automated 3D spine morphometry method and its application to spine remodeling in live neurons and spine abnormalities in a disease model. We anticipate that this approach will advance studies of synapse structure and function in brain development, plasticity, and disease.

Keywords

• dendritic spine morphology
• fragile X syndrome
• automated image analysis
• BDNF
• dendritic spine remodeling
• live cell imaging
• 3D reconstruction
• synapse
• FMRP
• PI3K inhibitor