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Glutamatergic synapses on oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the hippocampus

Nature volume 405, pages 187–191 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Fast excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system occurs at specialized synaptic junctions between neurons, where a high concentration of glutamate directly activates receptor channels. Low-affinity AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl isoxazole propionic acid) and kainate glutamate receptors are also expressed by some glial cells1, including oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). However, the conditions that result in activation of glutamate receptors on these non-neuronal cells are not known. Here we report that stimulation of excitatory axons in the hippocampus elicits inward currents in OPCs that are mediated by AMPA receptors. The quantal nature of these responses and their rapid kinetics indicate that they are produced by the exocytosis of vesicles filled with glutamate directly opposite these receptors. Some of these AMPA receptors are permeable to calcium ions, providing a link between axonal activity and internal calcium levels in OPCs. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that vesicle-filled axon terminals make synaptic junctions with the processes of OPCs in both the young and adult hippocampus. These results demonstrate the existence of a rapid signalling pathway from pyramidal neurons to OPCs in the mammalian hippocampus that is mediated by excitatory, glutamatergic synapses.

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Figure 1: Synaptic responses from identified OPCs in hippocampal slices.
Figure 2: Properties of excitatory responses in OPCs.
Figure 3: Quantal EPSCs in OPCs are elicited by a brief, high concentration of glutamate.
Figure 4: Excitatory synaptic responses were evoked in OPCs from both young and adult animals.
Figure 5: Electron micrographs of the synaptic relationships of OPCs.

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Acknowledgements

We thank P. Cobden and P. Jays for assistance. This work was supported by the UK Medical Research Council (P.S.) and the NIH (C.E.J.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vollum Institute, L474, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, 97201, Oregon, USA

    Dwight E. Bergles & Craig E. Jahr

  2. Department of Pharmacology, MRC Anatomical Neuropharmacology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TH, UK

    J. David B. Roberts & Peter Somogyi

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  1. Dwight E. Bergles
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  2. J. David B. Roberts
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  3. Peter Somogyi
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  4. Craig E. Jahr
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Correspondence to Dwight E. Bergles.

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Bergles, D., Roberts, J., Somogyi, P. et al. Glutamatergic synapses on oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the hippocampus. Nature 405, 187–191 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35012083

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