Aspartate, glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid depolarize cultured astrocytes.
Cultures of differentiated, glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes from early postnatal rat cerebral hemispheres respond with depolarization of 2-36 mV to glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and aspartate but not to glycine or taurine. While GABA resulted in a transient depolarization, the effect of glutamate and aspartate persisted during the application. Since neurons were not present in these cultures a contribution of transmitter-mediated K+ release from adjacent neurons could be excluded. The depolarization triggered by these neurotransmitters is therefore an intrinsic reaction of astrocytes.
D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005971:Glutamates; D013654:Taurine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005998:Glycine