Synapses of a cultured neuron

Synapses are sites of contact and communication between nerve cells. The proteins Bassoon and Piccolo (white) are enriched in synapses and regulate their tenacity. They indicate how many synapses have been formed at the processes (blue) of a nerve cell.

Image details

Image acquisition technique: epifluorescence.
Courtesy A. Petkova, T. Dresbach / UMG, CNMPB.