SPP 1172:  The Significance of Neuroglia for the Formation, Function and Plasticity of Synapses

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: from 2004 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5472132

The Priority Programme aims to study the influence of neuroglia in a multidisciplinary approach, from molecular to systemic, on the brain’s prime functional structure for information processing, the synapse, under physiological conditions and during pathological changes.
The programme is focussed on the following topics:
-- neuron-glia interactions at neuronal synapses
-- molecular relationships between synaptic elements, extracellular matrix molecules and glial cell processes
-- role of glia for the formation, stabilisation and removal of synapses
-- modulation of synaptic transmission by glia
-- metabolic nuturing of synapses by glia
-- significance of glial precursor cells (stem cells) for the formation and function of synapses

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes

Projects

• Analysis of single signalling molecules at the synaptic astroglia-neuron interface (Applicant Kirchhoff, Frank )
• Astrocyte-to-neuron communication: functional relevance for synaptic transmission in the respiratory network? (Applicant Hülsmann, Swen )
• Communication between cortical neurons and astrocytes by extracellular ATP and glutamate (Applicant Illes, Peter )
• Glia-mediated control of extracellular GABA/glutamate balance in the developing cortex (Applicant Kirischuk, Sergei )
• Glial responses at neuronal synapses and their purinergic modulation (Applicant Deitmer, Joachim W. )
• Influence of the constitutive, conditional and inducible astroglia-derived tenascin-C ablation on synaptic function (Applicant Schachner, Melitta )
• Investigating the function of astrocytes during neurotrophin-induced synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity (Applicant Dieterich, Daniela C. )
• Investigations on the ephrinA/EphA signalling system at the neuroglial interface - focus on synaptic morphology, plasticity and glutamate signalling (Applicant Klein, Rüdiger )
• Koordinationsprojekt (Applicant Deitmer, Joachim W. )
• Modulation of signal transmission in the hippocampus by GluR-type astroglial cells (Applicant Seifert, Gerald )
• Modulation of synaptic transmission by a novel activity-dependent regulatory mechanism of astrocytic gap junction coupling (Applicant Hülsmann, Swen )
• Neuron-glia interaction at a giant mammalian synapse, the Calyx of Held (Applicant Kettenmann, Helmut )
• New transgenic mouse models to study the role of astrocytes in synaptogenesis in vivo (Applicant Pfrieger, Frank W. )
• Regulation of Glycine Neurotransmission by the Glial Glycine Transporter 1. (Applicant Eulenburg, Volker )
• Regulation of synapse formation, plasticity and function by astroglial-derived extracellular matrix - tenascin-C and interacting proteoglycan ligands (Applicant Faissner, Andreas )
• Regulation of synapse formation, plasticity and function by astroglial-derived extracellular matrix - tenascin-C and interacting proteoglycan ligands (Applicant Faissner, Andreas )
• Role of Müller Glial Cells in Synaptic Development and Functioning of the Mammalian Retina (Applicant Reichenbach, Andreas )
• Role of the Perisynaptic Extracellular Matrix in Synaptic Plasticity (Applicant Gundelfinger, Eckart D. )
• Synaptically-induced sodium transients in glial cells (Applicant Rose, Christine R. )
• Targeting astroglial metabolism in vivo: Consequences for astrocytes, neurons and synapses (Applicant Hirrlinger, Ph.D., Johannes )
• The role of astroglial subtypes in synaptogenesis of adult generated neurons (Applicant Berninger, Benedikt )
• The role of cells expressing the proteoglycan NG2 in glial-neuronal signalling and synapse formation (Applicant Trotter, Ph.D., Jacqueline )
• Translation control of glial key players in neuron-glia interactions (Applicant Theis, Martin )

• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Joachim W. Deitmer
• Deputy: Professor Dr. Christian Steinhäuser