Topic: branching filopodia

While neuronal activity is important for synapse refinement and maintenance, its contribution to synapse formation and dendritic arborization remains unclear. Our previous work in dissociated hippocampal neurons identified a timeframe prior to the establishment of synapses during which spontaneous glutamate release facilitates the branching of dissociated hippocampal neurons by targeting NMDA receptors (NMDARs). We now demonstrate the role of NMDARs in synapse formation and dendritic maturation in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in cultured slices and in vivo. To test whether NMDARs guide sy