1Center for Integrative Imaging, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale & School of Life
Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
2Laboratory of Neurobiology, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health,
Bethesda, 20892, USA
3Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
90095-7364, USA

Abstract 

Neuronal synapses are functional nodes in neural circuits. Their organization and activity define an individual’s level of intelligence, emotional state and mental health. Changes in the structure and efficacy of synapses are the biological basis of learning and memory. However, investigation of the molecular architecture of synapses has been impeded by the lack of efficient techniques with sufficient resolution. Recent developments in state-of-the-art nano-imaging techniques have opened up a new window for dissecting the molecular organization of neuronal synapses with unprecedented resolution. Here, we review recent technological advances in nano-imaging techniques as well as their applications to the study of synapses, emphasizing super-resolution light microscopy and 3-dimensional electron tomography.

Keywords

synaptic architecture; nano-imaging; super-resolution imaging; STED microscopy; STORM

[SpringerLink]