Contribution of astrocytic networks to neurotransmission
Final Report Abstract
We could demonstrate that inactivation of the Cx30 and Cx43 genes increases hippocampal synaptic transmission in CA1 pyramidal neurons. This effect is mediated by enhanced and prolonged extracellular potassium rises, resulting in increased neuronal excitability, release probability and insertion of AMPA receptors, unsilencing synapses. By controlling synaptic strength, connexins play an important role in synaptic plasticity. Altogether, these results establish connexins as critical proteins for extracellular homeostasis, which may be important for the formation of functional synapses. Altogether, these results establish connexins as critical proteins for extracellular homeostasis, which may be important for the formation of functional synapses. Our findings are of interest not only for researchers working on astroglia but also for scientist in the neuronal field as the classic view of pre- and postsynaptic origins of short and longterm plasticity are no longer valid, as a third element, the astrocytic origin and especially its network connectivity has to be considered as well.
Publications
- 2008 Astroglial networks tune hippocampal transmission 2009 Gordon Research Conference Glial Biology
Pannasch U, Giaume C and Rouach N
