Parallel increases in the synaptic and surface areas of mossy fiber terminals following seizure induction

Seizure induction tends to be followed by the development of a predisposition to future seizure activity and the concurrent sprouting of the mossy fiber pathway into the inner molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, where recurrent excitatory synapses are formed. To determine whether synaptic remodeling of mossy fiber terminals within the hilus also occurs, rats were administered pentylenetetrazol and, 2 days later, control. and experimental tissue was processed for the ultrastructural immunohistochemical identification of mossy fiber terminals. Examination of the structure of these terminals within random hilar fields indicated that selective changes had occurred, which were only observed in the ventral hilus, and which were specific to terminals forming synapses with mossy cell spines (vs. interneurons). This terminal population displayed significant parallel increases in both the total active zone area and the surface area of an average terminal (measured from random two-dimensional samples of terminal structure). Increases in total active zone area must reflect increases in the number and/or size of individual active zones. These findings suggest that changes in terminal size can subserve adjustments in the overall, strength of a set of synaptic connections. In the context of the ventral hilus, a selective increase in the apparent strength of mossy fiber connections with mossy cells could support increases in excitability following seizure induction. Mossy cells form connections with granule cell proximal dendrites, providing another pathway for recurrent excitation. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.