title: Cytoskeletal assembly and ATP release regulate astrocytic calcium signaling.
abstract: We have studied the role of actin fiber assembly on calcium signaling in astrocytes. We found that (1) after astrocytes have been placed in culture, it takes several hours for organization of the definitive actin cytoskeleton. Actin organization and the number of cells engaged in calcium signaling increased in parallel. (2) Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton attenuated the calcium wave propagation; cytochalasin D treatment reduced the number of astrocytes engaged in calcium signaling. (3) Propagation of calcium waves depends on cytoskeletal function; inhibition of myosin light chain kinase suppressed wave activity. (4) Astrocytic calcium signaling is mediated by release of ATP and purinergic receptor stimulation, because agents that interfere with this cascade attenuated or reduced calcium signaling. Because purinergic receptors are fully functional shortly after plating and not affected by cytochalasin D, these observations indicate that cytoskeleton organization is a prerequisite for interastrocytic calcium signaling mediated by release of ATP.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Pathology, and Neurosurgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York 10595, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cotrina
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nedergaard
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001081:Apyrase / Q000494:pharmacology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics; D015638:Cytochalasin D / Q000494:pharmacology; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013498:Suramin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D018031:Connexin 43; D015638:Cytochalasin D; D013498:Suramin; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase; D001081:Apyrase; D002118:Calcium