Journal Article FZJ-2025-05546

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png
The interplay between homeostatic synaptic scaling and homeostatic structural plasticity maintains the robust firing rate of neural networks

 ;  ;  ;

2025
eLife Sciences Publications Cambridge

eLife RP88376, 1-32 () [https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.88376.3]

This record in other databases:  

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:  doi:

Abstract: Critical network states and neural plasticity enable adaptive behavior in dynamic environments, supporting efficient information processing and experience-dependent learning. Synaptic-weight-based Hebbian plasticity and homeostatic synaptic scaling are key mechanisms that enable memory while stabilizing network dynamics. However, the role of structural plasticity as a homeostatic mechanism remains less consistently reported, particularly under activity inhibition, leading to an incomplete understanding of its functional impact. In this study, we combined live-cell microscopy of eGFP-labeled neurons in mouse organotypic entorhinal-hippocampal tissue cultures (Thy1-eGFP mice of both sexes) with computational modeling to investigate how synapse-number-based structural plasticity responds to activity perturbations and interacts with homeostatic synaptic scaling. Tracking individual dendritic segments, we found that inhibiting excitatory neurotransmission does not monotonically regulate dendritic spine density. Specifically, inhibition of AMPA receptors with 200 nM 2,3-dioxo-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-benzo[f]quinoxaline (NBQX) increased spine density, whereas complete AMPA receptor blockade with 50 μM NBQX reduced it. Motivated by these findings, we developed network simulations incorporating a biphasic structural plasticity rule governing activity-dependent synapse formation. These simulations showed that the biphasic rule maintains neural activity homeostasis under stimulation and permits either synapse formation or synapse loss depending on the degree of activity deprivation. Homeostatic synaptic scaling further modulated recurrent connectivity, network activity, and structural plasticity outcomes. It reduced stimulation-triggered synapse loss by downscaling synaptic weights and rescued silencing-induced synapse loss by upscaling recurrent input, thus reactivating silent neurons. The interaction between these mechanisms provides a mechanistic explanation for divergent findings in the literature. In summary, homeostatic synaptic scaling and homeostatic structural plasticity dynamically compete and compensate for each other, ensuring efficient and robust control of firing rate homeostasis.

Classification:

Contributing Institute(s):
  1. Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC)
Research Program(s):
  1. 5111 - Domain-Specific Simulation & Data Life Cycle Labs (SDLs) and Research Groups (POF4-511) (POF4-511)
  2. SLNS - SimLab Neuroscience (Helmholtz-SLNS) (Helmholtz-SLNS)
  3. JL SMHB - Joint Lab Supercomputing and Modeling for the Human Brain (JL SMHB-2021-2027) (JL SMHB-2021-2027)
  4. HBP SGA3 - Human Brain Project Specific Grant Agreement 3 (945539) (945539)

Appears in the scientific report 2025
Database coverage:
Medline ; DOAJ ; Article Processing Charges ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; DOAJ Seal ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; Fees ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection ; Zoological Record
Click to display QR Code for this record

The record appears in these collections:
Dokumenttypen > Aufsätze > Zeitschriftenaufsätze
Workflowsammlungen > Öffentliche Einträge
Institutssammlungen > JSC
Online First

 Datensatz erzeugt am 2025-12-17, letzte Änderung am 2025-12-28


Restricted:
Volltext herunterladen PDF
Dieses Dokument bewerten:

Rate this document:
1
2
3
 
(Bisher nicht rezensiert)