Calcium dynamics of cortical astrocytic networks in vivo

Large and long-lasting cytosolic calcium surges in astrocytes have been described in cultured cells and acute slice preparations. The mechanisms that give rise to these calcium events have been extensively studied in vitro. However, their existence and functions in the intact brain are unknown. We h...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS biology 2004-04, Vol.2 (4), p.E96-0494
Main Authors: Hirase, Hajime, Qian, Lifen, Barthó, Peter, Buzsáki, György
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Aniline Compounds - pharmacology
Animals
Astrocytes - cytology
Astrocytes - metabolism
Biophysics
Brain - metabolism
Calcium - metabolism
Calcium Signaling
Cell Communication
Cells, Cultured
Cerebral Cortex - metabolism
Cytosol - metabolism
Electrophysiology
Female
Fluorescent Dyes - pharmacology
Immunohistochemistry
Labeling
Male
Microscopy
Microscopy, Confocal
Microscopy, Video
Models, Biological
Neuroglia - metabolism
Neurons
Neurons - metabolism
Neuroscience
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Rattus (Rat)
Signal Transduction
Xanthenes - pharmacology
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Summary:Large and long-lasting cytosolic calcium surges in astrocytes have been described in cultured cells and acute slice preparations. The mechanisms that give rise to these calcium events have been extensively studied in vitro. However, their existence and functions in the intact brain are unknown. We have topically applied Fluo-4 AM on the cerebral cortex of anesthetized rats, and imaged cytosolic calcium fluctuation in astrocyte populations of superficial cortical layers in vivo, using two-photon laser scanning microscopy. Spontaneous [Ca(2+)](i) events in individual astrocytes were similar to those observed in vitro. Coordination of [Ca(2+)](i) events among astrocytes was indicated by the broad cross-correlograms. Increased neuronal discharge was associated with increased astrocytic [Ca(2+)](i) activity in individual cells and a robust coordination of [Ca(2+)](i) signals in neighboring astrocytes. These findings indicate potential neuron-glia communication in the intact brain.
ISSN:1545-7885
1544-9173
1545-7885
DOI:10.1371/journal.pbio.0020096