title: In vivo visualization of subtle, transient, and local activity of astrocytes using an ultrasensitive Ca(2+) indicator.
abstract: Astrocytes generate local calcium (Ca(2+)) signals that are thought to regulate their functions. Visualization of these signals in the intact brain requires an imaging method with high spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we describe such a method using transgenic mice expressing the ultrasensitive ratiometric Ca(2+) indicator yellow Cameleon-Nano 50 (YC-Nano50) in astrocytes. In these mice, we detected a unique pattern of Ca(2+) signals. These occur spontaneously, predominantly in astrocytic fine processes, but not the cell body. Upon sensory stimulation, astrocytes initially responded with Ca(2+) signals at fine processes, which then propagated to the cell body. These observations suggest that astrocytic fine processes function as a high-sensitivity detector of neuronal activities. Thus, the method provides a useful tool for studying the activity of astrocytes in brain physiology and pathology.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors: Kazunori
authors: K
authors: Kanemaru
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Sekiya
authors: Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors: Kaname
authors: K
authors: Satoh
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors: Nami
authors: N
authors: Kitajima
authors: Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
authors: Keitaro
authors: K
authors: Yoshida
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors: Yohei
authors: Y
authors: Okubo
authors: Neurobiology Section and Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92093-0357, USA.
authors: Takuya
authors: T
authors: Sasaki
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan.
authors: Satoru
authors: S
authors: Moritoh
authors: Genome Information Research Center, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan.
authors: Hidetoshi
authors: H
authors: Hasuwa
authors: Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
authors: Masaru
authors: M
authors: Mimura
authors: Support Center for Advanced Medical Sciences, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
authors: Kazuki
authors: K
authors: Horikawa
authors: Division of Interdisciplinary Medical Science, Center for Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan.
authors: Ko
authors: K
authors: Matsui
authors: The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Ibaraki 567-0047, Japan.
authors: Takeharu
authors: T
authors: Nagai
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. Electronic address: iino@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
authors: Masamitsu
authors: M
authors: Iino
authors: Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. Electronic address: kftanaka@a8.keio.jp.
authors: Kenji F
authors: KF
authors: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D051379:Mice; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C495639:yellow cameleon