Superresolution imaging of native surface AMPA receptors in brain tissue

Abstract

AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are ionotropic glutamate receptors that play a crucial role in fast excitatory synaptic transmission. Knowing their numbers, as well as location on the surface of neurons is important for studying the effectiveness of synaptic transmissions. Single Molecule Localization Microscopy (SMLM) is a valuable tool in this regard, and has been used to study spatiotemporal organization of surface AMPARs, primarily in dissociated neuronal cultures. It is difficult, however, to observe native surface AMPARs with high resolution in a more physiologically relevant system such as mouse brain sections.