Spatially realistic model of neuron-glia communication

Abstract

Astrocytes are non-neuronal cells, which actively participate information processing, carried out by the nervous system, through excretion of gliotransmitters – signal molecules that modulate synaptic activity. Recent experimental data demonstrate the functional importance of a tripartite synapse – bidirectional communication between neurons and astrocytes. This is why it is important to build detailed biophysically realistic models of neuron-glia interactions. Real astrocytes are characterized by very rich spatio-temporal patterns of calcium dynamics, ranging from local calcium puffs at distal processes to global calcium waves, often involving many cells simultaneously. Such calcium dynamics is in turn shaped by the intricate morphology of astrocytes, which have a very high degree of spatial and functional heterogeneity of compartments: cell body, thick branches, thin leaflets and fine processes. This aspect is neglected by most of existing computational models. Here we expand the previous work on modelling physiologically relevant astrocytes using experimental microscopic images as spatial templates. We propose a modified model, which takes into consideration axon trajectories and synapse distributions, accounting for spatial localization of synapses as excitation sources. This will allow us to investigate the role of neuron-glia interactions and astrocyte calcium patterns in neuronal computations and potentially describe their functional contribution to such phenomena as synaptic plasticity and rhythm genesis. This study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, grant 21-74-00095.

Speaker

Artem V. Kirsanov
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russia

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