Spontaneous astrocytic Ca2+ oscillations in situ drive NMDAR-mediated neuronal excitation

Nat Neurosci. 2001 Aug;4(8):803-12. doi: 10.1038/90507.

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

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Astrocytes / cytology
  • Astrocytes / drug effects
  • Astrocytes / metabolism*
  • Biological Clocks / drug effects
  • Biological Clocks / physiology*
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Calcium Signaling / drug effects
  • Calcium Signaling / physiology*
  • Central Nervous System / cytology
  • Central Nervous System / drug effects
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • GABA Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Isoquinolines / pharmacokinetics
  • Lysine / analogs & derivatives
  • Lysine / pharmacokinetics
  • Magnesium / pharmacology
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects
  • Membrane Potentials / physiology
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Rats
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / drug effects
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism*
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology*
  • Tetrodotoxin / pharmacology
  • Thalamus / cytology
  • Thalamus / drug effects
  • Thalamus / metabolism
  • Vimentin / metabolism

Substances

  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • GABA Antagonists
  • Isoquinolines
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Vimentin
  • Tetrodotoxin
  • lucifer yellow
  • biocytin
  • Magnesium
  • Lysine