title: Activity-dependent neuronal control of gap-junctional communication in astrocytes.
abstract: A typical feature of astrocytes is their high degree of intercellular communication through gap junction channels. Using different models of astrocyte cultures and astrocyte/neuron cocultures, we have demonstrated that neurons upregulate gap-junctional communication and the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in astrocytes. The propagation of intercellular calcium waves triggered in astrocytes by mechanical stimulation was also increased in cocultures. This facilitation depends on the age and number of neurons, indicating that the state of neuronal differentiation and neuron density constitute two crucial factors of this interaction. The effects of neurons on astrocytic communication and Cx43 expression were reversed completely after neurotoxic treatments. Moreover, the neuronal facilitation of glial coupling was suppressed, without change in Cx43 expression, after prolonged pharmacological treatments that prevented spontaneous synaptic activity. Altogether, these results demonstrate that neurons exert multiple and differential controls on astrocytic gap-junctional communication. Since astrocytes have been shown to facilitate synaptic efficacy, our findings suggest that neuronal and astrocytic networks interact actively through mutual setting of their respective modes of communication.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U114, Collège de France 11, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rouach
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Glowinski
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giaume
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000187:drug effects; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D009498:Neurotoxins; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate