The hippocampal mossy fiber synapse

by Gundlfinger, Anja

Chemical synapses are key elements for the communication between nerve cells. This communication can be regulated on various time scales and through different mechanisms affecting synaptic transmission. Amongst these are slow and long-lasting adjustments by endogenous neuromodulators, instantaneous and reversible activity-dependent regulation by short-term plasticity and persistent activity-dependent changes by long-term plasticity. Within this thesis, we have investigated several aspects of modulation of synaptic transmission and its functional relevance at the example of the hippocampal mossy fiber synapse. The presented results were acquired through electrophysiological and microfluorometric experiments at the hippocampal formation of mice and could be verified and substantiated through theoretical analyses, simulations and computational modelling.