Hochauflösendes konfokales Fluoreszenz-Mikroskop mit STED-Technologie

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Functional and structural changes at synapses (plasticity) have been shown to underlie learning and memory processes. A very precise balance between plasticity and stability of synapses and thereby of the mature CNS network is crucial to ensure learning and memory formation. Thus, it is of crucial interest to analyse changes in the architecture of dendritic spines, the site of most excitatory synapses and to correlate them to functional changes. In addition, synaptic localization of molecules involved in synaptic transmission and plasticity is of extreme interest. In particular, it is of prime importance to analyse activity-dependent changes in the localization of plasticity-promoting (e.g. BDNF) or plasticity-limiting (e.g. Nogo-A) proteins and their consequences on spine/synapse structure. However, the imaging methods used so far suffer from intrinsic limitations that do not allow to resolve changes occurring below optical resolution. Combining confocal-based super-resolution (HyVolution) and Nanoscopy (Stimulated Emission Depletion, STED) will allow us to analyse structural plasticity upon learning, molecular mechanisms regulating it and its functional consequences. The combination of HyVolution and STED will allow us to analyse changes in size and shape of synaptic structures as well as protein/mRNA localization relative to the synapses under physiological (learning) or pathological conditions (Alzheimer, mental retardation, neuroinflammation).