Analysis of dendritic spines morphology: from classical division to types toward alternative approaches

Abstract

Neuronal cells are characterized by a close relationship between their functional state and morphology, especially such mobile structures as dendritic spines. Dendritic spines play an important role in the functioning of synaptic plasticity and memory formation mechanisms, as well as undergo significant changes during neurodegenerative diseases progression, and an assessment of their shape and density is an important task of modern neurobiology. This article provides a brief overview of the existing methods and approaches to the analysis of the dendritic spines morphology: from various mathematical algorithms that divide spines into classes (thin, mushroom and stubby) according to their form and emerging alternative approaches. Literature data indicating a uniform distribution of the main morphological parameters of dendritic spines, cast doubt on the often used division of spines into types and argue in favor of the existence of a continuum of forms. In line with this, the article proposes a new approach to the analysis of dendritic spines morphology and data presentation, combining classification with the study of the distribution of dendritic spines by key morphological parameters.

Keywords

• neuronal morphology
• mushroom spine
• thin spine
• stubby spine
• headed spine