Propagation of calcium waves and synaptic plasticity
Variations in the concentration of intracellular calcium are involved
in synaptic plasticity, a modification of synaptic strength thought to
be related to learning and memory. The conditioning stimuli that
induce synaptic plasticity can produce modifications both on the
synapses that are stimulated and on others. In 2000, Nishiyama et al
presented experimental evidence that the specificity and polarity of
the synaptic changes depend upon the spatiotemporal distribution of
the calcium concentration in the postsynaptic neuron. These authors
suggested that a calcium propagating signal could explain their
findings. In this talk I will describe a mathematical model developed
together with Ana Calabrese with which we analyze the conditions under
which some of the behaviors described by Nishiyama et al could be
elicited. From these results, we conclude that the probability that a
calcium wave will propagate depends on the relative buildup velocity
of calcium and of a co-agonist of the receptors through which calcium
is released from internal stores.