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10 years ago emerging experimental evidence brought the provocative proposal that CNS synapses are made not just of two but of three elements, including, in addition to the neuronal pre- and post-synapse, the fine ensheathing process of a surrounding astrocyte. Since then, many observations have brought attention to the potential for an interactive role of astrocytes in synaptic communication and circuital function, but they have not directly and definitively proved yet that synapses indeed function as tripartite units. Moreover, not in all circuits or experimental models, astrocyte activation has been found to induce synaptic effects. This symposium aims at presenting the state-of-the field, gathering the scientists that have been shaping it in the last years, in order to debate whether, 10 years after the proposal we can today assert that tripartite synapses are a reality of which all synaptic physiologists need to be aware. Also, the different approaches used to stimulate or inactivate astrocytes and test their synaptic involvement are presently discussed. This satellite symposium of the FENS 2010 meeting, welcomes participation from all neuroscientists within and outside the EU. It will involve research lectures and a final debate by leading neuroscientists from Europe and oversea intended to encourage lively discussions and the free exchange of information and ideas.
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