Influence of ionotropic receptors localization on glutamatergic synaptic response to paired-pulse stimulation protocol.

ABSTRACT

Paired-pulse protocol is a stimulation pattern that is often used to characterize short-term changes in synaptic potency. Responses to such protocol often yield varying results, going from a depressing response to a facilitated one following the second pulse. Similarly, experimental results have shown that synaptic structures are dynamic and receptors move along the postsynaptic membrane. The present study provides insights on the impact of glutamatergic receptors localization with respect to the neurotransmitters release site on the postsynaptic currents measured; it also proposes an explanation on the diversity of responses observed experimentally. The platform we used is the EONS/RHENOMS modeling platform widely described in the literature, which encompasses a multitude of highly detailed subsynaptic elements to most faithfully replicate synaptic function.