Compartmentalization of Ca 2؉ between dendritic spines and shafts is governed by diffusion barriers and a range of Ca 2؉ extrusion mechanisms. The distinct contribution of different Ca 2؉ clearance systems to Ca 2؉ compartmentalization in dendritic spines versus shafts remains elusive. We applied a combination of ultrastructural and functional imaging methods to assess the subcellular distribution and role of NCX1 in rat CA1 pyramidal cells. Quantitative electron microscopic analysis of preembedding immunogold reactions revealed uniform densities of NCX1 along the shafts of apical and basal dendrites, but densities in dendritic shafts were approximately seven times higher than in dendritic spines. In line with these results, two-photon imaging of synaptically activated Ca 2؉ transients during NCX blockade showed preferential action localized to the dendritic shafts for NCXs in regulating spine-dendrite coupling.sodium-calcium exchange ͉ hippocampus ͉ ImmunoGold ͉ imaging H ippocampal pyramidal cells form glutamatergic synapses on dendritic spine heads. Imaging experiments using Ca 2ϩ sensitive dyes revealed that synaptic stimulation raised intracellular Ca 2ϩ to higher levels in spines than in dendrites, suggesting that spines are individual compartments able to accumulate Ca 2ϩ (1-3). This compartmentalization offers the basis for selective regulation of single synapses and synaptic plasticity.Several factors are involved in the compartmentalization of Ca 2ϩ into spines. Ca 2ϩ spatiotemporal dynamics is controlled by biophysical factors, inf lux, eff lux, buffers, pumps, and stores (4, 5). Synaptic activation restricts Ca 2ϩ inf lux to the spine head by activating NMDA receptors, Ca 2ϩ -permeable AMPA receptors, and voltage-gated Ca 2ϩ channels (6). Dendritic spine necks serve as diffusion barriers by separating the spine head from its parent dendrite (7,8), as demonstrated by the slow diffusion of endogenous Ca 2ϩ buffers and rapid Ca 2ϩ clearance through Ca 2ϩ -extrusion mechanisms (4, 5, 9). However, the distinct contribution of different extrusion mechanisms to Ca 2ϩ compartmentalization in dendritic spines versus shafts remains elusive. Na ϩ /Ca 2ϩ exchanger (NCX) and plasma membrane Ca 2ϩ -ATPase (PMCA) molecules play an essential role in Ca 2ϩ clearance across the plasma membrane in excitable cells (10). Although PMCAs have higher affinity to Ca 2ϩ than do NCXs, the much lower turnover rate of PMCAs may cause quick saturation at elevated levels of Ca 2ϩ (10). The limited capacity of PMCAs suggests a more prominent role for NCXs in the process of rapid Ca 2ϩ extrusion; indeed, NCXs drive Ca 2ϩ extrusion after synaptic stimulation (11,12). In addition to the turnover rate, the capacity of a transporter molecule is determined by its density on the plasma membrane. Distinct subcellular distributions could assign different roles to NCXs in Ca 2ϩ homeostasis along with their exposure to specifically located regulatory systems.There are three known NCX proteins (NCX1-3) encoded by different genes (13-15). Hippo...