Project Title:

Astroglial regulation of inhibitory transmission and network activity

Josien Visser

Objectives:

Astrocytes tightly interact with neurons at the synaptic and network levels. Although astroglial interactions with excitatory neurons have been extensively studied, much less is known about the interactions with interneurons. The aim is to characterize the structural and functional interactions of astrocytes with specific interneuron populations and to determine their role in hippocampal rhythms involved in learning.

Methodology:

Transgenic mice with structural (fluorescent proteins) or functional labelling (calcium indicator) of astrocytes and specific interneurons will be used. Electrophysiological (patch-clamp and multielectrode array) and imaging techniques (two-photon multicolour STED microscopy) will be employed ex vivo. Behavioral testing associated with electrophysiological multisite silicon probes (to record hippocampal rhythms during learning) and implantable miniature microscope for visualizing large-scale neural circuit dynamics in freely behaving mice will also be employed.

Nathalie Rouach
College de France