Astrocytes integrate and drive action potential firing in inhibitory subnetworks.

ABSTRACT: Many brain functions depend on the ability of neural networks to temporally integrate transient inputs to produce sustained discharges. This can occur through cell-autonomous mechanisms in individual neurons and through reverberating activity in recurrently connected neural networks. We report a third mechanism involving temporal integration of neural activity by a network of astrocytes. Previously, we showed that some types of interneurons can generate long-lasting trains of action potentials (barrage firing) following repeated depolarizing stimuli. Here we show that calcium signaling in an astrocytic network correlates with barrage firing; that active depolarization of astrocyte networks by chemical or optogenetic stimulation enhances; and that chelating internal calcium, inhibiting rele

SUBMITTER: Deemyad T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6194108 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature