MOTIVATION

Understand how synaptic terminals release neurotransmitter and how synaptic vesicles are recycled

Hippocampal neurons n culture making synaptic contacts among themselves. The brighter spots are synaptic buttons stained with synaptopHluorin, a synaptic vesicle marker

APPROACH

To monitor exocytosis and endocytosis with maximal time and spatial resolution. We try to monitor single synaptic vesicles with a miliseconds time resolution, spatial of nanometers and a sensitivity in cell membrane capacaitance measurements of attofarads.