Thalamic synaptic transmission of sensory information modulated by synergistic interaction of adenosine and serotonin

Ya Chin Yang*, Chun Chang Hu, Chen Syuan Huang, Pei Yu Chou

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

The thalamic synapses relay peripheral sensory information to the cortex, and constitute an important part of the thalamocortical network that generates oscillatory activities responsible for different vigilance (sleep and wakefulness) states. However, the modulation of thalamic synaptic transmission by potential sleep regulators, especially by combination of regulators in physiological scenarios, is not fully characterized. We found that somnogen adenosine itself acts similar to wake-promoting serotonin, both decreasing synaptic strength as well as short-term depression, at the retinothalamic synapse. We then combined the two modulators considering the coexistence of them in the hypnagogic (sleep-onset) state. Adenosine plus serotonin results in robust synergistic inhibition of synaptic strength and dramatic transformation of short-term synaptic depression to facilitation. These synaptic effects are not achievable with a single modulator, and are consistent with a high signal-to-noise ratio but a low level of signal transmission through the thalamus appropriate for slow-wave sleep. This study for the first time demonstrates that the sleep-regulatory modulators may work differently when present in combination than present singly in terms of shaping information flow in the thalamocortical network. The major synaptic characters such as the strength and short-term plasticity can be profoundly altered by combination of modulators based on physiological considerations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)852-863
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Neurochemistry
Volume128
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 03 2014

Keywords

  • context-dependent neuromodulation
  • neuromodulators
  • short-term synaptic plasticity
  • sleep-wakefulness regulation
  • synaptic transmission
  • thalamocortical network

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