Enhancement of Neuronal Activity by Receptor-Mediated Gliotransmission

Transporters, embedded in glial plasma membranes, can regulate ambient GABA levels. We proposed here a neural network model with a GABAergic gliotransmission mechanism, and simulated the model to investigate how the type of GABA receptors on glia affects neuronal information processing. Although the synaptic interneuron-glia signaling via Open image in new window receptors slows the modulation of ambient GABA levels compared to that via Open image in new window receptors, it could increase principal cell activity and accelerate their reaction speed to an applied feature stimulus. Our preliminary simulation result suggests that Open image in new window receptors, generally expressed by glia (astrocytes), may improve the perceptual performance of the sensory cortex.