title: Vesicle mobility studied in cultured astrocytes.
abstract: Astrocytes release many neuroactive substances, which are stored in membrane bound vesicles and may play a role in synapse modulation and in the coupling between neuronal activity and the local blood flow. However, the mobility of these vesicles in astrocytes has not been studied yet. We here used a fluorescently tagged proatrial natriuretic peptide to label single vesicles and dynamic microscopy to monitor their mobility. To track and analyze labeled vesicles, we employed a computer software. We found two modes of vesicle mobility, directional and non-directional. The mobility of non-directional vesicles is likely determined mainly by free diffusion. Only directional vesicles displayed a straight-line motion. The relationship of mean square displacement with time in directional vesicles resembled a quadratic function, indicating that in addition to free diffusion other mechanisms may contribute to vesicle movements in astrocytes, the biophysical properties of which are similar to those of neurons.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology-Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Zaloska 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Celica Biomedical Sciences Center, Stegne 21c, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Potokar
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreft
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pangrsic
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zorec
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D022161:Transport Vesicles / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*