Properties of synaptically evoked astrocyte calcium signal reveal synaptic information processing by astrocytes

The synaptic control of the astrocytic intracellular Ca²⁺ is crucial in the reciprocal astrocyte-neuron communication. Using electrophysiological and Ca²⁺ imaging techniques in rat hippocampal slices, we investigated the astrocytic Ca²⁺ signal modulation induced by synaptic terminals that use glutamate andacetylcholine. Ca²⁺ elevations were evoked by glutamate released from Schaffer collaterals and by acetylcholine, but not glutamate, released by alveus stimulation, indicating that astrocytes discriminate the activity of different synapses belonging to different axon pathways. The Ca²⁺ signal was modulated bidirectionally by simultaneous activation of both pathways, being depressed at high stimulation frequencies and enhanced at low frequencies. The Ca ²⁺ modulation was attributable to astrocytic intrinsic properties, occurred at discrete regions of the processes, and controlled the intracellular expansion of the Ca²⁺ signal. In turn, astrocyte Ca²⁺ signal elicited NMDA receptor-mediated currents in pyramidal neurons. Therefore, because astrocytes discriminate and integrate synaptic information, we propose that they can be considered as cellular elements involved in the information processing by the nervous system.