Transmitter-evoked local calcium release stabilizes developing dendrites

In the central nervous system, dendritic arborizations of neurons undergo dynamic structural remodelling during development. Processes are elaborated, maintained or eliminated to attain the adult pattern of synaptic connections1,2,3. Although neuronal activity influences this remodelling4,5,6, it is not known how activity exerts its effects. Here we show that neurotransmission-evoked calcium (Ca2+) release from intracellular stores stabilizes dendrites during the period of synapse formation. Using a ballistic labelling method to load cells with Ca2+ indicator dyes7, we simultaneously monitored dendritic activity and structure in the intact retina. Two distinct patterns of spontaneous Ca2+ increases occurred in developing retinal ganglion cells—global increases throughout the arborization, and local ‘flashes’ of activity restricted to small dendritic segments. Blockade of local, but not global, activity caused rapid retraction of dendrites. This retraction was prevented locally by focal uncaging of caged Ca2+ that triggered Ca2+ release from internal stores. Thus, local Ca2+ release is a mechanism by which afferent activity can selectively and differentially regulate dendritic structure across the developing arborization.