Mitochondrial dynamics in visual cortex are limited in vivo and not affected by axonal structural plasticity.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mitochondrial dynamics in visual cortex are limited in vivo and not affected by axonal structural plasticity.

AU - Smit-Rigter, L.A.

AU - Rajendran, Rajeev

AU - Silva, Catia A.P.

AU - Spierenburg, Liselot

AU - Groeneweg, Femke

AU - Ruimschotel, E.

AU - Van Versendaal, D.

AU - van der Togt, C.

AU - Eysel, Ulf T.

AU - Heimel, J.A.

AU - Lohmann, C.

AU - Levelt, C.N.

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - Mitochondria buffer intracellular Ca2+ and provide energy [1]. Because synaptic structures with high Ca2+ buffering [2–4] or energy demand [5] are often localized far away from the soma, mitochondria are actively transported to these sites [6–11]. Also, the removal and degradation of mitochondria are tightly regulated [9, 12, 13], because dysfunctional mitochondria are a source of reactive oxygen species, which can damage the cell [14]. Deficits in mitochondrial trafficking have been proposed to contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, optic atrophy, and Alzheimer’s disease [13, 15–19]. In neuronal cultures, about a third of mitochondria are motile, whereas the majority remains stationary for several days [8, 20]. Activity-dependent mechanisms cause mitochondria to stop at synaptic sites [7, 8, 20, 21], which affects synapse function and maintenance. Reducing mitochondrial content in dendrites decreases spine density [22, 23], whereas increasing mitochondrial content or activity increases it [7]. These bidirectional interactions between synaptic activity and mitochondrial trafficking suggest that mitochondria may regulate synaptic plasticity. Here we investigated the dynamics of mitochondria in relation to axonal boutons of neocortical pyramidal neurons for the first time in vivo. We find that under these circumstances practically all mitochondria are stationary, both during development and in adulthood. In adult visual cortex, mitochondria are preferentially localized at putative boutons, where they remain for several days. Retinal-lesion-induced cortical plasticity increases turnover of putative boutons but leaves mitochondrial turnover unaffected. We conclude that in visual cortex in vivo, mitochondria are less dynamic than in vitro, and that structural plasticity does not affect mitochondrial dynamics.

AB - Mitochondria buffer intracellular Ca2+ and provide energy [1]. Because synaptic structures with high Ca2+ buffering [2–4] or energy demand [5] are often localized far away from the soma, mitochondria are actively transported to these sites [6–11]. Also, the removal and degradation of mitochondria are tightly regulated [9, 12, 13], because dysfunctional mitochondria are a source of reactive oxygen species, which can damage the cell [14]. Deficits in mitochondrial trafficking have been proposed to contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, optic atrophy, and Alzheimer’s disease [13, 15–19]. In neuronal cultures, about a third of mitochondria are motile, whereas the majority remains stationary for several days [8, 20]. Activity-dependent mechanisms cause mitochondria to stop at synaptic sites [7, 8, 20, 21], which affects synapse function and maintenance. Reducing mitochondrial content in dendrites decreases spine density [22, 23], whereas increasing mitochondrial content or activity increases it [7]. These bidirectional interactions between synaptic activity and mitochondrial trafficking suggest that mitochondria may regulate synaptic plasticity. Here we investigated the dynamics of mitochondria in relation to axonal boutons of neocortical pyramidal neurons for the first time in vivo. We find that under these circumstances practically all mitochondria are stationary, both during development and in adulthood. In adult visual cortex, mitochondria are preferentially localized at putative boutons, where they remain for several days. Retinal-lesion-induced cortical plasticity increases turnover of putative boutons but leaves mitochondrial turnover unaffected. We conclude that in visual cortex in vivo, mitochondria are less dynamic than in vitro, and that structural plasticity does not affect mitochondrial dynamics.

U2 - 10.1016/j.cub.2016.07.033

DO - 10.1016/j.cub.2016.07.033

M3 - Article

SN - 0960-9822

VL - 26

SP - 2609

EP - 2616

JO - Current Biology

JF - Current Biology

ER -