Polyribosomes are increased in spines of CA1 dendrites 2 h after the induction of LTP in mature rat hippocampal slices.

Enduring long-term potentiation (LTP) requires immediate protein synthesis, hence we assessed whether more polyribosomes are present in dendritic spines of mature hippocampal dendrites after the induction of LTP. Reconstructions from serial section transmission electron microscopy (sSTEM) revealed more dendritic polyribosomes 2 h posttetanus, relative to low-frequency stimulation (LFS). Polyribosomes were present in spines of all shapes with larger postsynaptic densities after 2 h, suggesting a coordinated local protein synthesis among many synapses to replenish proteins utilized during an earlier phase of LTP.

Endosomal compartments serve multiple hippocampal dendritic spines from a widespread rather than a local store of recycling membrane.

Endosomes are essential to dendritic and synaptic function in sorting membrane proteins for degradation or recycling, yet little is known about their locations near synapses. Here, serial electron microscopy was used to ascertain the morphology and distribution of all membranous intracellular compartments in distal dendrites of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in juvenile and adult rats. First, the continuous network of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) was traced throughout dendritic segments and their spines.