QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, November 21, 2007, 27(47):12817-12828; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2442-07.2007

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplemental Data Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in J. Neurosci. Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (13) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nestor, M. W. Articles by Thompson, S. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nestor, M. W. Articles by Thompson, S. M.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Cellular/Molecular
Plasticity of Neuron-Glial Interactions Mediated by Astrocytic EphARs

Michael W. Nestor,^1,2 Lee-Peng Mok,¹ Mohan E. Tulapurkar,¹ and Scott M. Thompson^1,2

¹Department of Physiology and ²Program in Neuroscience and Membrane Biology Training Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Correspondence should be addressed to Michael W. Nestor, Department of Physiology, Program in Neuroscience and Membrane Biology Training Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. Email: mnest001{at}umaryland.edu

Ephrin (Eph) signaling via Eph receptors affects neuronal structure and function. We report here that exogenous ephrinAs (EphAs) induce outgrowth of filopodial processes from astrocytes within minutes in rat hippocampal slice cultures. Identical effects were induced by release of endogenous ephrinAs by cleavage of their glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. Reverse transcription-PCR and immunocytochemistry revealed the expression of multiple EphA receptors (EphARs) in astrocytes. Exogenous and endogenous ephrins did not induce process outgrowth from astrocytes transfected with a kinase-dead EphAR construct, indicating that the critical EphARs were located on glia. Concomitant with these morphological changes, ephrinA reduced the frequency of (S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine-evoked NMDA receptor-mediated inward currents in CA1 pyramidal cells, elicited by release of glutamate from glial cells. The sensitivity of CA1 cell synaptic or extrasynaptic NMDA receptors was unaffected by ephrinA, indicating that this effect was mediated by inhibition of glutamate release from glial cells. Finally, ephrinA application decreased the frequency and increased the duration of spontaneous oscillations of the intracellular [Ca²⁺] in astrocytes. We conclude that ephrinA–EphA signaling is a pluripotent regulator of neuron–astrocyte interactions mediating rapid structural and functional plasticity.

Key words: astrocyte; ephrin; Eph receptor; plasticity; hippocampus; electrophysiology

---

Received May 29, 2007; revised Sept. 7, 2007; accepted Oct. 2, 2007.

Correspondence should be addressed to Michael W. Nestor, Department of Physiology, Program in Neuroscience and Membrane Biology Training Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. Email: mnest001{at}umaryland.edu

Related articles in J. Neurosci.:

This Week in The Journal

J. Neurosci. 2007 27: i. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Tremblay, V. Fugere, J. Tsui, A. Schohl, A. Tavakoli, B. A. N. Travencolo, L. d. F. Costa, and E. S. Ruthazer Regulation of Radial Glial Motility by Visual Experience J. Neurosci., November 11, 2009; 29(45): 14066 - 14076. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help