GABA Regulation of Burst Firing in Hippocampal Astrocyte Neural Circuit: A Biophysical Model

Junxiu Liu, Liam McDaid, Alfonso Araque, John Wade, Jim Harkin, Shvan Haji Karim, David Henshall, Niamh Connolly, Anju P. Johnson, Andy Tyrrell, Jon Timmis, Alan G. Millard, James Hilder, David M. Halliday

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)
105 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

It is now widely accepted that glia cells and gamma-aminobutyric acidergic (GABA) interneurons dynamically regulate synaptic transmission and neuronal activity in time and space. This paper presents a biophysical model that captures the interaction between an astrocyte cell, a GABA interneuron and pre/postsynaptic neurons. Specifically, GABA released from a GABA interneuron triggers in astrocytes the release of calcium (Ca2+) from the endoplasmic reticulum via the inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) pathway. This results in gliotransmission which elevates the presynaptic transmission probability rate (PR) causing weight potentiation and a gradual increase in postsynaptic neuronal firing, that eventually stabilizes. However, by capturing the complex interactions between IP3, generated from both GABA and the 2-arachidonyl glycerol (2-AG) pathway, and PR, this paper shows that this interaction not only gives rise to an initial weight potentiation phase but also this phase is followed by postsynaptic bursting behavior. Moreover, the model will show that there is a presynaptic frequency range over which burst firing can occur. The proposed model offers a novel cellular level mechanism that may underpin both seizure-like activity and neuronal synchrony across different brain regions.
Original languageEnglish
Article number335
Pages (from-to)1-14
Number of pages14
JournalFrontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
Volume13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 23 Jul 2019

Keywords

  • astrocyte cell
  • GABA
  • interneuron
  • burst firing
  • calcium oscillation
  • potentiation

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