Resolving the structure of inner ear ribbon synapses by stimulated emission depletion microscopy (CAT#: STEM-MIT-0365-LJX)

Introduction

Synapses are diverse in form and function; however, the mechanisms underlying this diversity are poorly understood. To illuminate structure/function relationships, robust analysis of molecular composition and morphology is needed. The molecular-anatomical components of synapses-vesicles, clusters of voltage-gated ion channels in presynaptic densities, arrays of transmitter receptors in postsynaptic densities-are only tens to hundreds of nanometers in size. Measuring the topographies of synaptic proteins requires nanoscale resolution of their molecularly specific labels. Super-resolution light microscopy has emerged to meet this need. Achieving 50 nm resolution in thick tissue, the service employed stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy to image the functionally and molecularly unique ribbon-type synapses in the inner ear that connect mechano-sensory inner hair cells to cochlear nerve fibers.