INTRAMEMBRANOUS STRUCTURE OF THE POSTSYNAPTIC MEMBRANE IN THE RAT SENSORIMOTOR CORTEX

Intramembranous structure of the postsynaptic membrane of the axodendr itic synapses in the rat sensorimotor cortex was examined by means of freeze-etching technique. Perforated and non-perforated aggregates of particles were found at the extracellular half (E-face) of the postsyn aptic membrane. To study correlation between membrane structure and sy naptic plasticity we compared size and particle packing density in bot h type aggregates of particles at the E-face of the postsynaptic dendr itic spine membrane. The results are discussed in terms of plasticity on the synaptic contact zone (SCZ) at the postsynaptic membrane of the excitatory axospinous synapses.