The principal neurons of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body and NG2+ glial cells receive coordinated excitatory synaptic input
Open Access
- 27 July 2009
- journal article
- Published by Rockefeller University Press in The Journal of general physiology
- Vol. 134 (2), 115-127
- https://doi.org/10.1085/jgp.200910194
Abstract
Glial cell processes are part of the synaptic structure and sense spillover of transmitter, while some glial cells can even receive direct synaptic input. Here, we report that a defined type of glial cell in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) receives excitatory glutamatergic synaptic input from the calyx of Held (CoH). This giant glutamatergic terminal forms an axosomatic synapse with a single principal neuron located in the MNTB. The NG2 glia, as postsynaptic principal neurons, establish synapse-like structures with the CoH terminal. In contrast to the principal neurons, which are known to receive excitatory as well as inhibitory inputs, the NG2 glia receive mostly, if not exclusively, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor-mediated evoked and spontaneous synaptic input. Simultaneous recordings from neurons and NG2 glia indicate that they partially receive synchronized spontaneous input. This shows that an NG2(+) glial cell and a postsynaptic neuron share presynaptic terminals.Keywords
This publication has 57 references indexed in Scilit:
- Satellite NG2 Progenitor Cells Share Common Glutamatergic Inputs with Associated Interneurons in the Mouse Dentate GyrusJournal of Neuroscience, 2008
- Vesicular release of glutamate from unmyelinated axons in white matterNature Neuroscience, 2007
- The calyx of HeldCell and tissue research, 2006
- Synaptic transmission onto hippocampal glial cells with hGFAP promoter activityJournal of Cell Science, 2005
- Creating a sense of auditory spaceThe Journal of Physiology, 2005
- Climbing Fiber Innervation of NG2-Expressing Glia in the Mammalian CerebellumNeuron, 2005
- Synaptic signaling between GABAergic interneurons and oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the hippocampusNature Neuroscience, 2003
- Developmental profiles of glutamate receptors and synaptic transmission at a single synapse in the mouse auditory brainstemThe Journal of Physiology, 2002
- Short-term plasticity at the calyx of heldNature Reviews Neuroscience, 2002
- GFAP promoter-controlled EGFP-expressing transgenic mice: A tool to visualize astrocytes and astrogliosis in living brain tissueGlia, 2000