Long-term potentiation of neuron-glia synapses mediated by Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors

Science. 2006 Jun 9;312(5779):1533-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1124669.

Abstract

Interactions between neurons and glial cells in the brain may serve important functions in the development, maintenance, and plasticity of neural circuits. Fast neuron-glia synaptic transmission has been found between hippocampal neurons and NG2 cells, a distinct population of macroglia-like cells widely distributed in the brain. We report that these neuron-glia synapses undergo activity-dependent modifications analogous to long-term potentiation (LTP) at excitatory synapses, a hallmark of neuronal plasticity. However, unlike the induction of LTP at many neuron-neuron synapses, both induction and expression of LTP at neuron-NG2 synapses involve Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors on NG2 cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Long-Term Potentiation*
  • Neuroglia / physiology*
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Receptors, AMPA / physiology*
  • Synapses / physiology*

Substances

  • Receptors, AMPA
  • Calcium