3D neuronal mitochondrial morphology in axons, dendrites, and somata of the aging mouse hippocampus
Julie Faitg,
Clay Lacefield,
Tracey Davey,
Kathryn White,
Ross Laws,
Stylianos Kosmidis,
Amy K. Reeve,
Eric R. Kandel,
Amy E. Vincent,
Martin Picard
Affiliations
Julie Faitg
Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Electron Microscopy Research Services, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
Clay Lacefield
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
Tracey Davey
Electron Microscopy Research Services, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
Kathryn White
Electron Microscopy Research Services, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
Ross Laws
Electron Microscopy Research Services, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
Stylianos Kosmidis
Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Department of Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Amy K. Reeve
Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Eric R. Kandel
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA; Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Department of Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Amy E. Vincent
Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Corresponding author
Martin Picard
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA; Division of Behavioral Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neurology, The Merritt Center and Columbia Translational Neuroscience Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Corresponding author
Summary: The brain’s ability to process complex information relies on the constant supply of energy through aerobic respiration by mitochondria. Neurons contain three anatomically distinct compartments—the soma, dendrites, and projecting axons—which have different energetic and biochemical requirements, as well as different mitochondrial morphologies in cultured systems. In this study, we apply quantitative three-dimensional electron microscopy to map mitochondrial network morphology and complexity in the mouse brain. We examine somatic, dendritic, and axonal mitochondria in the dentate gyrus and cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) of the mouse hippocampus, two subregions with distinct principal cell types and functions. We also establish compartment-specific differences in mitochondrial morphology across these cell types between young and old mice, highlighting differences in age-related morphological recalibrations. Overall, these data define the nature of the neuronal mitochondrial network in the mouse hippocampus, providing a foundation to examine the role of mitochondrial morpho-function in the aging brain.
