ATP Hysteresis in Tripartite Synapses

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical model demonstrating hysteresis phenomena in tripartite synapses, highlighting the role of glial adenosine in modulating synaptic transmission and introducing a memory operator for synaptic plasticity.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical framework modeling hysteresis in tripartite synapses through a memory operator, advancing understanding of glial-neuronal feedback mechanisms.

Findings

Hysteresis phenomena are theoretically modeled in tripartite synapses.

The model explains delayed feedback inhibition via adenosine.

A new memory operator for synaptic plasticity is proposed.

Abstract

Recent experimental studies strongly suggest the influence of glial purinergic transmission in the modulation of synaptic dynamics. By releasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which accumulates as adenosine, astrocytes tonically suppressed synaptic transmission. The delayed multi-step feedback of the glial adenosine with the neuron suggest the existence of hysteresis phenomena, which are investigated in the present study from the theoretical point of view. The model suggests that a memory operator, tripartite synaptic plasticity, governs the mysterious delayed feedback inhibition caused by the action of adenosine on neuronal $A_1$ receptors and provides a powerful tool for further dynamical modeling tasks on tripartite synapses.