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@ARTICLE{Lu:1049762,
author = {Lu, Han and Diaz, Sandra and Lenz, Maximilian and Vlachos,
Andreas},
title = {{T}he interplay between homeostatic synaptic scaling and
homeostatic structural plasticity maintains the robust
firing rate of neural networks},
journal = {eLife},
volume = {RP88376},
issn = {2050-084X},
address = {Cambridge},
publisher = {eLife Sciences Publications},
reportid = {FZJ-2025-05546},
pages = {1-32},
year = {2025},
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.},
cin = {JSC},
ddc = {600},
cid = {I:(DE-Juel1)JSC-20090406},
pnm = {5111 - Domain-Specific Simulation $\&$ Data Life Cycle Labs
(SDLs) and Research Groups (POF4-511) / SLNS - SimLab
Neuroscience (Helmholtz-SLNS) / JL SMHB - Joint Lab
Supercomputing and Modeling for the Human Brain (JL
SMHB-2021-2027) / HBP SGA3 - Human Brain Project Specific
Grant Agreement 3 (945539)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-5111 / G:(DE-Juel1)Helmholtz-SLNS /
G:(DE-Juel1)JL SMHB-2021-2027 / G:(EU-Grant)945539},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.88376.3},
url = {https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1049762},
}