Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Slo1

Title: Neuron-astrocyte interactions in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body.

Authors: Daniel Reyes-Haro, Jochen Müller, Margarethe Boresch, Tatjyana Pivneva, Bruno Benedetti, Anja Scheller, Christiane Nolte, Helmut Kettenmann

Journal, date & volume: J. Gen. Physiol., 2010 Jun , 135, 583-94

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20479112

Abstract
The calyx of Held (CoH) synapse serves as a model system to analyze basic mechanisms of synaptic transmission. Astrocyte processes are part of the synaptic structure and contact both pre- and postsynaptic membranes. In the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), midline stimulation evoked a current response that was not mediated by glutamate receptors or glutamate uptake, despite the fact that astrocytes express functional receptors and transporters. However, astrocytes showed spontaneous Ca(2+) responses and neuronal slow inward currents (nSICs) were recorded in the postsynaptic principal neurons (PPNs) of the MNTB. These currents were correlated with astrocytic Ca(2+) activity because dialysis of astrocytes with BAPTA abolished nSICs. Moreover, the frequency of these currents was increased when Ca(2+) responses in astrocytes were elicited. NMDA antagonists selectively blocked nSICs while D-serine degradation significantly reduced NMDA-mediated currents. In contrast to previous studies in the hippocampus, these NMDA-mediated currents were rarely synchronized.