We simulated synaptic transmission and modified a simple model of long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) in order to describe long-term plasticity related changes in cerebellar mossy fiber-granule cell synapses. In our model, protein autophosphorylation, leading to the maintenance of long-term plasticity, is controlled by Ca2+ entry through the NMDA receptor channels. The observed nonlinearity in the development of long-term changes of EPSP in granule cells is explained by the difference in the rate constants of two independent autocatalytic processes.
Model Type: Synapse
Model Concept(s): Simplified Models; Long-term Synaptic Plasticity; Maintenance
Simulation Environment: NEURON
Implementer(s): Saftenku, Elena [esaft at biph.kiev.ua]
References:
Saftenku EE. (2002). A simplified model of long-term plasticity in cerebellar mossy fiber-granule cell synapses. Neurophysiology/Neirofiziologiya. 34