Abstract
Astrocytes respond to chemical, electrical and mechanical stimuli with transient increases in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). We now show that astrocytes in situ display intrinsic [Ca2+]i oscillations that are not driven by neuronal activity. These spontaneous astrocytic oscillations can propagate as waves to neighboring astrocytes and trigger slowly decaying NMDA receptor-mediated inward currents in neurons located along the wave path. These findings show that astrocytes in situ can act as a primary source for generating neuronal activity in the mammalian central nervous system.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Astrocytes / cytology
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Astrocytes / drug effects
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Astrocytes / metabolism*
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Biological Clocks / drug effects
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Biological Clocks / physiology*
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Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
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Calcium Signaling / drug effects
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Calcium Signaling / physiology*
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Central Nervous System / cytology
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Central Nervous System / drug effects
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Central Nervous System / metabolism*
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Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
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GABA Antagonists / pharmacology
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Immunohistochemistry
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Isoquinolines / pharmacokinetics
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Lysine / analogs & derivatives
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Lysine / pharmacokinetics
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Magnesium / pharmacology
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Membrane Potentials / drug effects
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Membrane Potentials / physiology
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / drug effects
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Patch-Clamp Techniques
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Rats
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / drug effects
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism*
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Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
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Synaptic Transmission / physiology*
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Tetrodotoxin / pharmacology
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Thalamus / cytology
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Thalamus / drug effects
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Thalamus / metabolism
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Vimentin / metabolism
Substances
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Calcium Channel Blockers
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
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GABA Antagonists
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Isoquinolines
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
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Vimentin
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Tetrodotoxin
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lucifer yellow
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biocytin
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Magnesium
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Lysine