title: Volume transmission signalling via astrocytes.
abstract: The influence of astrocytes on synaptic function has been increasingly studied, owing to the discovery of both gliotransmission and morphological ensheathment of synapses. While astrocytes exhibit at best modest membrane potential fluctuations, activation of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) leads to a prominent elevation of intracellular calcium which has been reported to correlate with gliotransmission. In this review, the possible role of astrocytic GPCR activation is discussed as a trigger to promote synaptic plasticity, by affecting synaptic receptors through gliotransmitters. Moreover, we suggest that volume transmission of neuromodulators could be a biological mechanism to activate astrocytic GPCRs and thereby to switch synaptic networks to the plastic mode during states of attention in cerebral cortical structures.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neuron-Glia Circuitry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan Saitama University Brain Science Institute, Saitama, Saitama, Japan hirase@brain.riken.jp.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirase
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neuron-Glia Circuitry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Youichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwai
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neuron-Glia Circuitry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neuron-Glia Circuitry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neuron-Glia Circuitry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuneko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mishima
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
keywords: Gq signalling; IP3 receptors; acetylcholine; d-serine; gamma oscillations