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Connexin 30 sets synaptic strength by controlling astroglial synapse invasion.
- Source :
-
Nature neuroscience [Nat Neurosci] 2014 Apr; Vol. 17 (4), pp. 549-58. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Mar 02. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Astrocytes play active roles in brain physiology by dynamic interactions with neurons. Connexin 30, one of the two main astroglial gap-junction subunits, is thought to be involved in behavioral and basic cognitive processes. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are unknown. We show here in mice that connexin 30 controls hippocampal excitatory synaptic transmission through modulation of astroglial glutamate transport, which directly alters synaptic glutamate levels. Unexpectedly, we found that connexin 30 regulated cell adhesion and migration and that connexin 30 modulation of glutamate transport, occurring independently of its channel function, was mediated by morphological changes controlling insertion of astroglial processes into synaptic clefts. By setting excitatory synaptic strength, connexin 30 plays an important role in long-term synaptic plasticity and in hippocampus-based contextual memory. Taken together, these results establish connexin 30 as a critical regulator of synaptic strength by controlling the synaptic location of astroglial processes.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Astrocytes metabolism
Behavior, Animal
Connexin 30
Female
Hippocampus cytology
Hippocampus metabolism
Hippocampus pathology
Male
Memory physiology
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Knockout
Mutation genetics
Neuronal Plasticity physiology
Astrocytes pathology
Cell Movement physiology
Connexins metabolism
Glutamic Acid metabolism
Synapses physiology
Synaptic Transmission physiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1546-1726
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Nature neuroscience
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 24584052
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.3662