Astrocytes Optimize the Synaptic Transmission of Information
Figure 5
For a synapse that is functionally associated with an astrocyte, the initial neurotransmitter release triggers intracellular Ca2+ elevation and a consequential glutamate release from the astrocyte.
Due to the positive feedback from the astrocyte, the dynamical increase in release probability (total DP≈3) until it saturates at P≈5 is shown. When the feedback from the astrocyte is absent the release probability fluctuates around P≈0.2 (see inset).