Regulation by astrocytic ATP of synaptic transmission

Abstract

Originally ascribed to having only passive roles in the CNS, astrocytes are now known to have an active role in the regulation of synaptic transmission. Neuronal activity can evoke Ca²⁺ transients in astrocytes and Ca²⁺ transients in astrocytes can evoke changes in neuronal activity. The excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate has been shown to mediate such bi-directional communication between astrocytes and neurons. We demonstrate here that ATP, a primary mediator of intercellular Ca²⁺ signaling among astrocytes, also mediates intercellular signaling between astrocytes and neurons in hippocampal cultures. Mechanical stimulation of astrocytes evoked Ca²⁺ waves mediated by the release of ATP and activation of P2 receptors. Mechanically evoked Ca²⁺ waves led to decreased excitatory glutamatergic synaptic transmission in an ATP-dependent manner. Exogenous application of ATP does not affect post-synaptic glutamatergic responses but decreased pre-synaptic exocytotic events. Finally, we show that astrocytes exhibit spontaneous Ca²⁺ oscillations mediated by extracellular ATP and that inhibition of these Ca²⁺ responses enhanced excitatory glutamatergic transmission. We therefore conclude that ATP released from astrocytes exerts tonic and activity-dependent down-regulation of synaptic transmission via pre-synaptic mechanisms.