Short-term ionic plasticity at GABAergic synapses

• Main Authors: Joseph Valentino Raimondo, Henry eMarkram, Colin J Akerman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2012-10-01
• Series: Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience
• Subjects: Synaptic Transmission; chloride; GABA; GABAA receptors; short-term ionic shift plasticity; EGABA
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnsyn.2012.00005/full

Fast synaptic inhibition in the brain is mediated by the pre-synaptic release of the neurotransmitter γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the post-synaptic activation of GABA-sensitive ionotropic receptors. As with excitatory synapses, it is being increasinly appreciated that a variety of plastic processes occur at inhibitory synapses, which operate over a range of timescales. Here we examine a form of activity-dependent plasticity that is somewhat unique to GABAergic transmission. This involves short-lasting changes to the ionic driving force for the postsynaptic receptors, a process referred to as short-term ionic plasticity. These changes are directly related to the history of activity at inhibitory synapses and are influenced by a variety of factors including the location of the synapse and the post-synaptic cell’s ion regulation mechanisms. We explore the processes underlying this form of plasticity, when and where it can occur, and how it is likely to impact network activity.