Loading…
Extensive astrocyte synchronization advances neuronal coupling in slow wave activity in vivo
Slow wave activity (SWA) is a characteristic brain oscillation in sleep and quiet wakefulness. Although the cell types contributing to SWA genesis are not yet identified, the principal role of neurons in the emergence of this essential cognitive mechanism has not been questioned. To address the poss...
Saved in:
Published in: | Scientific reports 2017-07, Vol.7 (1), p.6018-18, Article 6018 |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Summary: | Slow wave activity (SWA) is a characteristic brain oscillation in sleep and quiet wakefulness. Although the cell types contributing to SWA genesis are not yet identified, the principal role of neurons in the emergence of this essential cognitive mechanism has not been questioned. To address the possibility of astrocytic involvement in SWA, we used a transgenic rat line expressing a calcium sensitive fluorescent protein in both astrocytes and interneurons and simultaneously imaged astrocytic and neuronal activity
in vivo
. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, that the astrocyte network display synchronized recurrent activity
in vivo
coupled to UP states measured by field recording and neuronal calcium imaging. Furthermore, we present evidence that extensive synchronization of the astrocytic network precedes the spatial build-up of neuronal synchronization. The earlier extensive recruitment of astrocytes in the synchronized activity is reinforced by the observation that neurons surrounded by active astrocytes are more likely to join SWA, suggesting causality. Further supporting this notion, we demonstrate that blockade of astrocytic gap junctional communication or inhibition of astrocytic Ca
2+
transients reduces the ratio of both astrocytes and neurons involved in SWA. These
in vivo
findings conclusively suggest a causal role of the astrocytic syncytium in SWA generation. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 2045-2322 2045-2322 |
DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-017-06073-7 |