抄録
Originally ascribed to having only passive roles in the CNS, astrocytes are now known to have an active role in the regulation of synaptic transmission. Neuronal activity can evoke Ca2+ transients in astrocytes and Ca 2+ transients in astrocytes can evoke changes in neuronal activity. The excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate has been shown to mediate such bi-directional communication between astrocytes and neurons. We demonstrate here that ATP, a primary mediator of intercellular Ca2+ signaling among astrocytes, also mediates intercellular signaling between astrocytes and neurons in hippocampal cultures. Mechanical stimulation of astrocytes evoked Ca 2+ waves mediated by the release of ATP and activation of P2 receptors. Mechanically evoked Ca2+ waves led to decreased excitatory glutamatergic synaptic transmission in an ATP-dependent manner. Exogenous application of ATP does not affect post-synaptic glutamatergic responses but decreased pre-synaptic exocytotic events. Finally, we show that astrocytes exhibit spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations mediated by extracellular ATP and that inhibition of these Ca2+ responses enhanced excitatory glutamatergic transmission. We therefore conclude that ATP released from astrocytes exerts tonic and activity-dependent down-regulation of synaptic transmission via pre-synaptic mechanisms.
本文言語 | 英語 |
---|---|
ページ(範囲) | 389-396 |
ページ数 | 8 |
ジャーナル | Folia Pharmacologica Japonica |
巻 | 123 |
号 | 6 |
DOI | |
出版ステータス | 出版済み - 2004 |
外部発表 | はい |
!!!All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- 薬理学