Difference between revisions of "Recognizing synapses in the zfish dataset"

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(Additional examples)
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== Additional examples ==
 
== Additional examples ==
  
Many examples of synapses from the zfish dataset will be added here over time. '''The images below are thumbnails and are best viewed at full size (click them to enlarge).'''
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Several more examples of synapses from the zfish dataset will be added here over time. '''The images below are thumbnails and are best viewed at full size (click them to enlarge).'''
  
 
Most examples will show the original greyscale image on the left, and an outlined version of it on the right. '''The outline colors are red for axons, green for dendrites, and yellow for areas of high vesicle density.''' The synapses aren't outlined, but they should be obvious: they're the dark borders located where the red, green and yellow outlines come together.
 
Most examples will show the original greyscale image on the left, and an outlined version of it on the right. '''The outline colors are red for axons, green for dendrites, and yellow for areas of high vesicle density.''' The synapses aren't outlined, but they should be obvious: they're the dark borders located where the red, green and yellow outlines come together.
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Cube #2676281, cell 78868: (multiple synapses in one shot!)
 
Cube #2676281, cell 78868: (multiple synapses in one shot!)
  
 
[[File:Syn2676281.jpg | frameless]]
 
[[File:Syn2676281.jpg | frameless]]
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Cube #2752336, cell 78815: (a pair of synapses!)
 
Cube #2752336, cell 78815: (a pair of synapses!)
  
 
[[File:Syn2752336.jpg | frameless]]
 
[[File:Syn2752336.jpg | frameless]]
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Ok, I guess multiple synapses in a single image are going to be pretty common. :p Three synapses coming right up!
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Cube #2756772, cell 79154:
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[[File:Syn2756772.jpg | frameless]]

Revision as of 05:19, 9 March 2018

To identify synapses in zfish cells, look for 2 things:

  1. A short stretch of border between 2 cells, that is darker and thicker than the rest of the border.
  2. An area of increased neurotransmitter vesicle density on one side of the dark border.

When you've identified a synapse, it should be easy to tell which side of the border is the axon and which is the dendrite. The area of higher vesicle density marks the presynaptic neurite, or axon. The other side is the postsynaptic neurite, or dendrite.

Note: there is such a thing as a postsynaptic density, but I'm not sure if that is visible in zfish slides. Ironically, the presynaptic side is visibly denser than the postsynaptic side due to the neurotransmitter vesicles.

Below is an example of a synapse, from cube #2134873, cell 77327. (Click to enlarge)

Syn2134873.jpg

The axon is circled red and the dendrite circled green. The yellow square roughly indicates the borders of the cropped images in the bottom row. Each of those images is the same image with different annotations drawn on them (except for the first image, which allows you to see the original greyscale micrograph with no obstructing highlights/markings). The bottom row of images, from left to right, show:

  1. Original greyscale image
  2. Dark/thick border (circled red), which along with NT vesicles in #3, indicates a possible synapse
  3. Area of higher neurotransmitter vesicle density (circled red), which indicates the axon
  4. Axon (outlined in red) vs dendrite (outlined in green)

Additional examples

Several more examples of synapses from the zfish dataset will be added here over time. The images below are thumbnails and are best viewed at full size (click them to enlarge).

Most examples will show the original greyscale image on the left, and an outlined version of it on the right. The outline colors are red for axons, green for dendrites, and yellow for areas of high vesicle density. The synapses aren't outlined, but they should be obvious: they're the dark borders located where the red, green and yellow outlines come together.


Cube #2676281, cell 78868: (multiple synapses in one shot!)

Syn2676281.jpg


Cube #2752336, cell 78815: (a pair of synapses!)

Syn2752336.jpg


Ok, I guess multiple synapses in a single image are going to be pretty common. :p Three synapses coming right up! Cube #2756772, cell 79154:

Syn2756772.jpg