Dynamic Transitions in Neuronal Network Firing Sustained by Abnormal Astrocyte Feedback.

Dynamic Transitions in Neuronal Network Firing Sustained by Abnormal Astrocyte Feedback.
Neural Plast. 2020;2020:8864246
Authors: Yu Y, Yuan Z, Fan Y, Li J, Wu Y
Abstract
Astrocytes play a crucial role in neuronal firing activity. Their abnormal state may lead to the pathological transition of neuronal firing patterns and even induce seizures. However, there is still little evidence explaining how the astrocyte network modulates seizures caused by structural abnormalities, such as gliosis. To explore the role of gliosis of the astrocyte network in epileptic seizures, we first established a direct astrocyte feedback neuronal network model on the basis of the hippocampal CA3 neuron-astrocyte model to simulate the condition of gliosis when astrocyte processes swell and the feedback to neurons increases in an abnormal state. We analyzed the firing pattern transitions of the neuronal network when astrocyte feedback starts to change via increases in both astrocyte feedback intensity and the connection probability of astrocytes to neurons in the network. The results show that as the connection probability and astrocyte feedback intensity increase, neuronal firing transforms from a nonepileptic synchronous firing state to an asynchronous firing state, and when astrocyte feedback starts to become abnormal, seizure-like firing becomes more severe and synchronized; meanwhile, the synchronization area continues to expand and eventually transform...

Source: Neural Plasticity - December 12, 2020 Category: Neurology Authors: Yu Y, Yuan Z, Fan Y, Li J, Wu Y Tags: Neural Plast Source Type: research