An active role for astrocytes in synaptic plasticity?
Recently, Henneberger and colleagues blocked hippocampal long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP) induction by "clamping" intracellular calcium concentration of individual CA1 astrocytes, suggesting calcium-dependent gliotransmitter release from astocytes plays a role in hippocampal LTP induction. However, using transgenic mice to manipulate astrocytic calcium, Agulhon and colleagues demonstrated no effect on LTP induction. Until the question of how intracellular calcium causes gliotransmitter release is answered, the role of astrocytes in synaptic plasticity will be incompletely understood.
Wenker
Ian
I
University of Connecticut, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, 75 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3156, USA. ian.wenker@uconn.edu
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*