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Published on: June 23, 2013
Astrocytic purinergic signaling coordinates synaptic networks.
Olivier Pascual1, Kristen B Casper, Cathryn Kubera
1Department of Neuroscience, Conte Center for Integration at the Tripartite Synapse, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 8, 2005
Summary
Astrocytes regulate synaptic transmission by releasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which suppresses neuronal activity. This glial cell function enhances synaptic plasticity and enables activity-dependent synaptic cross-talk.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Glial Biology
- Synaptic Plasticity
Background:
- Astrocytes, a type of glial cell, play crucial roles in brain function.
- The precise mechanisms by which astrocytes regulate synaptic transmission are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of astrocytes in regulating synaptic transmission.
- To determine how blocking astrocyte-derived transmitters affects synaptic plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Generated inducible transgenic mice with a dominant-negative SNARE domain selectively in astrocytes.
- Blocked the release of transmitters from astrocytes in these mice.
- Assessed the impact on synaptic transmission, long-term potentiation, and heterosynaptic depression.
Main Results:
- Blocking astrocyte transmitter release led to tonic suppression of synaptic transmission.
- Astrocytes enhance the dynamic range for long-term potentiation.
- Astrocytes mediate activity-dependent, heterosynaptic depression.
Conclusions:
- Astrocytes are integral to regulating synaptic strength and plasticity.
- Astrocytes provide a critical pathway for synaptic cross-talk.
- Glial cells actively modulate neuronal communication.
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