title: Spontaneous astrocytic Ca2+ oscillations in situ drive NMDAR-mediated neuronal excitation.
abstract: Astrocytes respond to chemical, electrical and mechanical stimuli with transient increases in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). We now show that astrocytes in situ display intrinsic [Ca2+]i oscillations that are not driven by neuronal activity. These spontaneous astrocytic oscillations can propagate as waves to neighboring astrocytes and trigger slowly decaying NMDA receptor-mediated inward currents in neurons located along the wave path. These findings show that astrocytes in situ can act as a primary source for generating neuronal activity in the mammalian central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, PO Box 911, Cardiff, CF10 3US, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Parri
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Crunelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008239:Lysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D007546:Isoquinolines; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D014746:Vimentin; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; C017475:lucifer yellow; C013411:biocytin; D008274:Magnesium; D008239:Lysine