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Gliotransmission and the Tripartite Synapse

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Synaptic Plasticity

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((volume 970))

Abstract

In the last years, the classical view of glial cells (in particular of astrocytes) as a simple supportive cell for neurons has been replaced by a new vision in which glial cells are active elements of the brain. Such a new vision is based on the existence of a bidirectional communication between astrocytes and neurons at synaptic level. Indeed, perisynaptic processes of astrocytes express active G-protein-coupled receptors that are able (1) to sense neurotransmitters released from the synapse during synaptic activity, (2) to increase cytosolic levels of calcium, and (3) to stimulate the release of gliotransmitters that in turn can interact with the synaptic elements. The mechanism(s) by which astrocytes can release gliotransmitter has been extensively studied during the last years. Many evidences have suggested that a fraction of astrocytes in situ release neuroactive substances both with calcium-dependent and calcium-independent mechanism(s); whether these mechanisms coexist and under what physiological or pathological conditions they occur, it remains unclear. However, the calcium-dependent exocytotic vesicular release has received considerable attention due to its potential to occur under physiological conditions via a finely regulated way. By releasing gliotransmitters in millisecond time scale with a specific vesicular apparatus, astrocytes can integrate and process synaptic information and control or modulate synaptic transmission and plasticity.

Please note the erratum to this chapter at the end of the book.

An erratum to this chapter can be found at 10.1007/978-3-7091-0932-8_26

An erratum to this chapter can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0932-8_26

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  1. DBCM, Department of Physiology, University of Bern, BĂĽhlplatz 5, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

    Mirko Santello, Corrado Calì & Paola Bezzi

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  1. Mirko Santello
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  2. Corrado Calì
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  1. , PG Neuroplasticity, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, BrenneckestraĂźe 6, Magdeburg, 39118, Germany

    Michael R. Kreutz

  2. , Institute of Neuroscience, CR6 CNR-IN Consiglio Nazionale delle Ric, Via Vanvitelli, 32, Milano, 20129, Italy

    Carlo Sala

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Santello, M., Calì, C., Bezzi, P. (2012). Gliotransmission and the Tripartite Synapse. In: Kreutz, M., Sala, C. (eds) Synaptic Plasticity. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 970. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0932-8_14

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