Intercellular signaling in glial cells: calcium waves and oscillations in response to mechanical stimulation and glutamate.
Intercellular Ca2+ signaling in primary cultures of glial cells was investigated with digital fluorescence video imaging. Mechanical stimulation of a single cell induced a wave of increased [Ca2+]i that was communicated to surrounding cells. This was followed by asynchronous Ca2+ oscillations in some cells. Similar communicated Ca2+ responses occurred in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, despite an initial decrease in [Ca2+]i in the stimulated cell. Mechanical stimulation in the presence of glutamate induced a typical communicated Ca2+ wave through cells undergoing asynchronous Ca2+ oscillations in response to glutamate. The coexistence of communicated Ca2+ waves and asynchronous Ca2+ oscillations suggests distinct mechanisms for intra- and intercellular Ca2+ signaling. This intercellular signaling may coordinate cooperative glial function.
Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine 90024.
A C
AC
Charles
J E
JE
Merrill
E R
ER
Dirksen
M J
MJ
Sanderson
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016257:Fura-2; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007700:Kinetics; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013861:Thiocyanates
D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005971:Glutamates; D013861:Thiocyanates; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2