PLoS ONE (Jan 2012)

Immuno-Golgi as a tool for analyzing neuronal 3D-dendritic structure in phenotypically characterized neurons.

  • Luísa Pinto,
  • António Mateus-Pinheiro,
  • Mónica Morais,
  • João Miguel Bessa,
  • Nuno Sousa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0033114
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 3
p. e33114

Abstract

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Characterization of neuronal dendritic structure in combination with the determination of specific neuronal phenotype or temporal generation is a challenging task. Here we present a novel method that combines bromodioxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry with Golgi-impregnation technique; with this simple non-invasive method, we are able to determine the tridimensional structure of dendritic arborization and spine shape of neurons born at a specific time in the hippocampus of adult animals. This analysis is relevant in physiological and pathological conditions in which altered neurogenesis is implicated, such as aging or emotional disorders.