Abstract
A major breakthrough in neuroscience has been the realization in the last decades that the dogmatic view of astroglial cells as being merely fostering and buffering elements of the nervous system is simplistic. A wealth of investigations now shows that astrocytes actually participate in the control of synaptic transmission in an active manner. This was first hinted by the intimate contacts glial processes make with neurons, particularly at the synaptic level, and evidenced using electrophysiological and calcium imaging techniques. Calcium imaging has provided critical evidence demonstrating that astrocytic regulation of synaptic efficacy is not a passive phenomenon. However, given that cellular activation is not only represented by calcium signaling, it is also crucial to assess concomitant mechanisms. We and others have used electrophysiological techniques to simultaneously record neuronal and astrocytic activity, thus enabling the study of multiple ionic currents and in depth investigation of neuro-glial dialogues. In the current review, we focus on the input such approach has provided in the understanding of astrocyte-neuron interactions underlying control of synaptic efficacy.
🔬 Techniques
🔭 Microscopes
✨ Fluorophores
🧪 Sample Preparation
🔬 Cell Lines
🏭 Microscope Brands
🏛️ Research Organizations (ROR)
Affiliated research institutions:
📊 Figures
Figure 1
Recording of astroglial membrane properties. (A) Schematic representation of intracellular (whole cell patch clamp recording or sharp electrode) recording of an astrocyte. (B) Upper panel: dye couplin...
Figure 2
Recording of synaptically evoked GLT and K + currents in astrocytes. Schematic representation of the experimental setting for simultaneous recording of extracellular fEPSP (EXTRA) and intracellular as...
Figure 3
High potassium permeability of glial cells is mediated by K ir 4.1 channels. (A) Schematic illustration of simultaneous recordings of extracellular K + concentration (K + ) and glial membrane potentia...
Figure 4
Dual electrophysiological recording of neuronal and astroglial activities. (A) Example showing that the extracellular field response corresponds to the initial outward signal recorded through an astro...
Figure 5
Interfering with astrocytes influences neuronal activity. (A,B) Infusion of BAPTA in the astrocytic network decreases synaptic efficacy in minimal stimulation conditions. (A) Experimental arrangement ...
Figure images are served from the NIH/NLM PubMed Central Open Access Subset or Europe PMC; copyright remains with the publishers and authors.
💬 Discussion
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