title: A mathematical model of the tripartite synapse: astrocyte-induced synaptic plasticity.
abstract: In this paper, we present a biologically detailed mathematical model of tripartite synapses, where astrocytes modulate short-term synaptic plasticity. The model consists of a pre-synaptic bouton, a post-synaptic dendritic spine-head, a synaptic cleft and a peri-synaptic astrocyte controlling Ca(2 + ) dynamics inside the synaptic bouton. This in turn controls glutamate release dynamics in the cleft. As a consequence of this, glutamate concentration in the cleft has been modeled, in which glutamate reuptake by astrocytes has also been incorporated. Finally, dendritic spine-head dynamics has been modeled. As an application, this model clearly shows synaptic potentiation in the hippocampal region, i.e., astrocyte Ca(2 + ) mediates synaptic plasticity, which is in conformity with the majority of the recent findings (Perea and Araque (Science 317, 1083-1086, 2007); Henneberger et al. (Nature 463, 232-236, 2010); Navarrete et al. (PLoS Biol. 10, e1001259, 2012)).
authors.affiliation: Systems Science and Informatics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 8th Mile, Mysore Road, Bangalore, 560059 India ; Biotechnology & Bioengineering Center and Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226 USA.
authors.forename: Shivendra G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Tewari
authors.forename: Kaushik Kumar
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Majumdar
keywords: Astrocyte; Calcium dynamics; Short-term potentiation; Tripartite synapse