Modeling structural plasticity in dendrites with multiple spine types

Abstract

Introduction Dendritic spines can change in number and shape in response to various physiological, behavioral or pathological states. This activity-dependent structural plasticity exists over a vast range of time scales, from minutes to days or weeks [1,2]. Although spines may have a continuum of shapes, evidence suggests that spines may cluster in defined groups by their shapes [3-6]. Further evidence suggests that spine morphology correlates with distance from the cell body [3,4]; proximal to the soma, where the dendrite has the largest diameter, spines have short necks and appear stubby, whereas distally, where the dendrite is thinner, spines have thinner and longer stems. At intermediate distances, a variety of spine types are seen including the intermediate mushroom-shaped spines.