Biophysical properties of presynaptic short-term plasticity in hippocampal neurons: insights from electrophysiology, imaging and mechanistic models.

Ranjita Dutta Roy,Christian Rosenmund,Melanie I Stefan

doi:10.3389/fncel.2014.00141

Abstract

Hippocampal neurons show different types of short-term plasticity (STP). Some exhibit facilitation of their synaptic responses and others depression. In this review we discuss presynaptic biophysical properties behind heterogeneity in STP in hippocampal neurons such as alterations in vesicle priming and docking, fusion, neurotransmitter filling and vesicle replenishment. We look into what types of information electrophysiology, imaging and mechanistic models have given about the time scales and relative impact of the different properties on STP with an emphasis on the use of mechanistic models as complementary tools to experimental procedures. Taken together this tells us that it is possible for a multitude of different mechanisms to underlie the same STP pattern, even though some are more important in specific cases, and that mechanistic models can be used to integrate the biophysical properties to see which mechanisms are more important in specific cases of STP.

Highlights

DYNAMICS OF short-term plasticity (STP) IN HIPPOCAMPAL NEURONS AND THE ROLE OF BIOPHYSICAL MODELS Heterogeneity in synapse architecture and the frequencies at which synaptic information is transmitted cover a wide range in nature and depend on the task of the synapse
We look into what types of information electrophysiology, imaging and mechanistic models have given about the time scales and relative impact of the different properties on STP with an emphasis on the use of mechanistic models as complementary tools to experimental procedures
Taken together this tells us that it is possible for a multitude of different mechanisms to underlie the same STP pattern, even though some are more important in specific cases, and that mechanistic models can be used to integrate the biophysical properties to see which mechanisms are more important in specific cases of STP

Summary

Introduction

DYNAMICS OF STP IN HIPPOCAMPAL NEURONS AND THE ROLE OF BIOPHYSICAL MODELS Heterogeneity in synapse architecture and the frequencies at which synaptic information is transmitted cover a wide range in nature and depend on the task of the synapse. In order to elucidate the causes and their interactions, to understand disparate data and to be able to make predictions about STP and evoked release, mechanistic mathematical models have been formulated over the years for different types of synaptic boutons (Trommershä user et al, 2003; Pan and Zucker, 2009; Nadkarni et al, 2010) These models have been constructed to complement experimental data by giving insight into interactions of the components underlying neurotransmitter release and short-term plasticity, and analyzing it at a deeper level. Such approximations are done based on quantitative and kinetic data from experiments that we will go through below

Objectives

Conclusion