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J Physiol Volume 586, Number 6, 1509-1517, March 15, 2008 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2007.150029
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SYMPOSIUM REPORT

The regulation of dendritic arbor development and plasticity by glutamatergic synaptic input: a review of the synaptotrophic hypothesis

 Hollis Cline1 and Kurt Haas2

1 Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbour, NY 11724, USA
2 Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The synaptotropic hypothesis, which states that synaptic inputs control the elaboration of dendritic (and axonal) arbors was articulated by Vaughn in 1989. Today the role of synaptic inputs in controlling neuronal structural development remains an area of intense research activity. Several recent studies have applied modern molecular genetic, imaging and electrophysiological methods to this question and now provide strong evidence that maturation of excitatory synaptic inputs is required for the development of neuronal structure in the intact brain. Here we critically review data concerning the hypothesis with the expectation that understanding the circumstances when the data do and do not support the hypothesis will be most valuable. The synaptotrophic hypothesis contributes at both conceptual and mechanistic levels to our understanding of how relatively minor changes in levels or function of synaptic proteins may have profound effects on circuit development and plasticity.

(Received 25 December 2007; accepted after revision 10 January 2008; first published online 17 January 2008)
Corresponding author H. Cline: Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbour, NY 11724, USA. Email: cline{at}cshl.edu

This report was presented at The Journal of Physiology Symposium on Synaptic Plasticity, San Diego, CA, USA, 2 November 2007. It was commissioned by the Editorial Board and reflects the views of the author.




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