16x9_DAaxonwithvesiclesx (IMAGE)

DOE/Argonne National Laboratory

16x9_DAaxonwithvesiclesx

Caption

Dopamine axons (light blue) form local swellings, called varicosities, filled with vesicles (yellow spheres) that release dopamine. These swellings can form direct contact points with non-dopamine axons (red) and closely resemble spinules, structures that are believed to modulate neuronal activity.

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(Image by Gregg Wildenberg, University of Chicago/Argonne National Laboratory.)

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