Both excitatory and inhibitory synapses are present in the c

Both excitatory and inhibitory synapses are present in the cerebellum. How would you prepare tissue to visualized synapse and what identifying characteristic would you looks for to differentiate the two types of synapses? Where in the cerebellum might you expect to find the different types of synapses?

Solution

Monitoring of GABA levels and calcium signaling need to be carried out to differentiate the synapse. High levels of GABA are expected in the excitatory phase while levels will decrease during inhibitory phase.

Excitatory synapse will takes place in Purkinje fibres while inhibitory synapse can be found in golgi, stellate and basket cells.