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SUMMARY:Unraveling the role of astroglial perisynaptic nanodomains in syna
 ptic strength and memory - Dr Nathalie Rouach\, CIRB\, College de France\,
  Paris
DTSTART:20160616T150000Z
DTEND:20160616T160000Z
UID:TALK66565@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Sarah Harrison
DESCRIPTION:Astrocytes play active roles in brain physiology by dynamic in
 teractions with neurons. The modalities of such interactions remain nevert
 heless elusive. Connexin 30\, one of the two astroglial gap-junction subun
 its\, is thought to be involved in behavioral and basic cognitive processe
 s. However\, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms were unknown
 . We will show here in mice that connexin 30 controls hippocampal excitato
 ry synaptic transmission through modulation of astroglial glutamate transp
 ort\, which directly alters synaptic glutamate levels. Unexpectedly\, we f
 ound that connexin 30 regulated cell adhesion and migration and that conne
 xin 30 modulation of glutamate transport\, occurring independently of its 
 channel function\, was mediated by morphological changes controlling inser
 tion of astroglial perisynaptic processes into synaptic clefts. By setting
  excitatory synaptic strength\, connexin 30 plays an important role in lon
 g-term synaptic plasticity and in hippocampus-based contextual memory. Tak
 en together\, these results establish connexin 30 as a critical regulator 
 of synaptic strength by controlling the synaptic location of astroglial pr
 ocesses.
LOCATION:Hodgkin Huxley Seminar Room\, Physiology Building\, Downing Site
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