Team 'Glia-neuron interactions', manager: Stéphane Oliet, PhD.
We established that endogenous neuromodulators such as endocannabinoids and oxytocin (OT) are potent regulators of inhibitory GABAergic transmission in the hypothalamus and, consequently, of the firing rate of neuroendocrine neurons. We showed for the first time that excitatory glutamatergic inputs onto hypothalamic neurons could display activity-dependent synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation and long-term depression. These long-term changes depend on NMDA receptor (NMDAR) activation. We also demonstrated that ERK phosphorylation is a key step in the activation of osmosensitive hypothalamic neurons.
We also used the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the hypothalamus as an experimental model to determine the impact of the glial environment onto synaptic transmission and plasticity. We took advantage of the anatomical remodeling occurring in this brain area during physiological stimulations, such as lactation. This remodeling is characterized by a pronounced reduction of the glial coverage of SON neurons. We showed that astroglia were controlling NMDA receptors (NMDAR) through the release of d-serine, a co-agonist of these receptors. Our results indicate that the astrocytic environment governs the number of NMDAR recruited during synaptic stimulation, thereby influencing the direction and magnitude of synaptic plasticity. These findings are one of the best demonstrations so far that glia contribute to the transfer and storage of information in the brain.
Composition table of the team
at May 25, 2012
at May 25, 2012
| Researchers | Inserm | 1 |
3 |
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| CNRS | 2 |
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| Professors | Bordeaux 1 | 1 |
2 |
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| Bordeaux 2 | 1 |
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| Technicians& Engineers | In the teams | Permanent | 2 |
3 |
3 |
| Non permanent | 1 |
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| Post-Doc | 1 |
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| PhD | 5 |
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| Other students | 1 |
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| TOTAL | 15 |
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Display organizational personnel chart
