Astrocytes Amplify Neuronal Dendritic Volume Transmission Stimulated by Norepinephrine

Volume transmission signalling via astrocytes

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 glio...

Astrocytes and extracellular matrix in extrasynaptic volume transmission.

Volume transmission is a form of intercellular communication that does not require synapses; it is based on the diffusion of neuroactive substances across the brain extracellular space (ECS) and their binding to extrasynaptic high-affinity receptors on neurons or glia. Extracellular diffusion is restricted by the limited volume of the ECS, which is described by the ECS volume fraction α, and th...

Improved Function and Maturation of Dendritic Cells Stimulated by Recombinant pp65 Protein: In vitro Design

Astrocytes orchestrate neuronal synchrony

Astrocytes orchestrate neuronal synchrony stroctyes are known to modulate synaptic communication between neurons. Now, colleagues report that astrocytes can elicit slow inward currents outside of synapses and thus activate synchronous responses in multiple neurons. During periods of intense neural activity, calcium oscillations are triggered in astrocytes, inducing the cells to release glutamat...

Dendritic calcium spikes in layer 5 pyramidal neurons amplify and limit transmission of ligand-gated dendritic current to soma.

Long-lasting, dendritic, Ca(2+)-dependent action potentials (plateaus) were investigated in layer 5 pyramidal neurons from rat neocortical slices visualized by infrared-differential interference contrast microscopy to understand the role of dendritic Ca(2+) spikes in the integration of synaptic input. Focal glutamate iontophoresis on visualized dendrites caused soma firing rate to increase line...