Rapid stimulus-evoked astrocyte Ca2+ elevations and hemodynamic responses in mouse somatosensory cortex in vivo

TY - JOUR

T1 - Rapid stimulus-evoked astrocyte Ca2+ elevations and hemodynamic responses in mouse somatosensory cortex in vivo

AU - Lind, Barbara Lykke

AU - Brazhe, Alexey

AU - Jessen, Sanne Barsballe

AU - Tan, Florence C C

AU - Lauritzen, Martin J

PY - 2013/11/26

Y1 - 2013/11/26

N2 - Increased neuron and astrocyte activity triggers increased brain blood flow, but controversy exists over whether stimulationinduced changes in astrocyte activity are rapid and widespread enough to contribute to brain blood flow control. Here, we provide evidence for stimulus-evoked Ca2+ elevations with rapid onset and short duration in a large proportion of cortical astrocytes in the adult mouse somatosensory cortex. Our improved detection of the fast Ca2+ signals is due to a signal-enhancing analysis of the Ca2+ activity. The rapid stimulation-evoked Ca2+ increases identified in astrocyte somas, processes, and end-feet preceded local vasodilatation. Fast Ca2+ responses in both neurons and astrocytes correlated with synaptic activity, but only the astrocytic responses correlated with the hemodynamic shifts. These data establish that a large proportion of cortical astrocytes have brief Ca2+ responses with a rapid onset in vivo, fast enough to initiate hemodynamic responses or influence synaptic activity.

AB - Increased neuron and astrocyte activity triggers increased brain blood flow, but controversy exists over whether stimulationinduced changes in astrocyte activity are rapid and widespread enough to contribute to brain blood flow control. Here, we provide evidence for stimulus-evoked Ca2+ elevations with rapid onset and short duration in a large proportion of cortical astrocytes in the adult mouse somatosensory cortex. Our improved detection of the fast Ca2+ signals is due to a signal-enhancing analysis of the Ca2+ activity. The rapid stimulation-evoked Ca2+ increases identified in astrocyte somas, processes, and end-feet preceded local vasodilatation. Fast Ca2+ responses in both neurons and astrocytes correlated with synaptic activity, but only the astrocytic responses correlated with the hemodynamic shifts. These data establish that a large proportion of cortical astrocytes have brief Ca2+ responses with a rapid onset in vivo, fast enough to initiate hemodynamic responses or influence synaptic activity.

U2 - 10.1073/pnas.1310065110

DO - 10.1073/pnas.1310065110

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0027-8424

VL - 110

SP - E4678–E4687

JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

IS - 48

ER -