Atomic force microscopic observation of three-dimensional morphological changes of neurons where stimulated by a neurotransmitter

As the first step in the study df morphological changes in neurons associated with their functional changes, we applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) for the observation of fine three-dimensional morphological changes in rat cerebellar granule cells stimulated by an agonist of glutamate receptors, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). The AFM revealed that NMDA changed the cross-sections of cell bodies from a trapezoid-like form to a triangle-like form within a minute. The fine hill-like structures on the top surfaces of the cell bodies became wider during the same period. These results were suggested to be induced by the depolymerization; of filamentous actin triggered by the entry of Ca2+ via cation channels complexed with the activated NMDA receptors.