Notice: Users may be experiencing issues with displaying some pages on stanfordhealthcare.org. We are working closely with our technical teams to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.
 

Learn about the flu shot, COVID-19 vaccine, and our masking policy »

Stanford Health Care

Astrocyte Intermediaries of Septal Cholinergic Modulation in the Hippocampus NEURON Pabst, M., Braganza, O., Dannenberg, H., Hu, W., Pothmann, L., Rosen, J., Mody, I., van Loo, K., Deisseroth, K., Becker, A. J., Schoch, S., Beck, H. 2016; 90 (4): 853-865

Abstract

The neurotransmitter acetylcholine, derived from the medial septum/diagonal band of Broca complex, has been accorded an important role in hippocampal learning and memory processes. However, the precise mechanisms whereby acetylcholine released from septohippocampal cholinergic neurons acts to modulate hippocampal microcircuits remain unknown. Here, we show that acetylcholine release from cholinergic septohippocampal projections causes a long-lasting GABAergic inhibition of hippocampal dentate granule cells in vivo and in vitro. This inhibition is caused by cholinergic activation of hilar astrocytes, which provide glutamatergic excitation of hilar inhibitory interneurons. These results demonstrate that acetylcholine release can cause slow inhibition of principal neuronal activity via astrocyte intermediaries.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.04.003

View details for Web of Science ID 000376255600017

View details for PubMedID 27161528