Dendritic Spine Quantification Using an Automatic Three-Dimensional Neuron Reconstruction SoftwareKevin M. Keary III 1, Ellen Sojka 1,2, Melissa Gonzalez 1,2, Zheng Li 1
1Section on Synapse Development Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, 2Colgate University
Dendritic spines are post-synaptic compartments of most excitatory synapses. Alterations to dendritic spine morphology occur during neurodevelopment, aging, learning, and many neurological and psychiatric disorders, underscoring the importance of reliable dendritic spine analysis. This protocol describes quantifying dendritic spine morphology accurately and reproducibly using automatic three-dimensional neuron reconstruction software.