Activity-dependent modulation of intracellular ATP in cultured cortical astrocytes.
Brain function is absolutely dependent on an appropriate supply of energy. A shortfall in supply-as occurs, for instance, following stroke-can lead rapidly to irreversible damage to this vital organ. While the consequences of pathophysiological energy depletion have been well documented, much less is known about the physiological energy dynamics of brain cells, although changes in the intracellular concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the major energy carrier of cells, have been postulated to contribute to cellular signaling. To address this issue more closely, we have investigated intracellular ATP in cultured primary cortical astrocytes by time-lapse microscopy using a genetically encoded fluorescent sensor for ATP. The cytosolic ATP sensor signal decreased after application of the neurotransmitter glutamate in a manner dependent on both glutamate concentration and glutamate transporter activity, but independent of glutamate receptors. The application of dopamine did not affect ATP levels within astrocytes. These results confirm that intracellular ATP levels in astrocytes do indeed respond to changes in physiological activity and pave the way for further studies addressing factors that affect regulation of ATP. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Ulrike
U
Winkler
Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Pauline
P
Seim
Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Yvonne
Y
Enzbrenner
Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Susanne
S
Köhler
Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Marit
M
Sicker
Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.|Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.
Johannes
0000-0002-6327-0089
J
Hirrlinger
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
D018698:Glutamic Acid; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D004298:Dopamine
ATP; ATeam1.03YEMK; astrocyte; glutamate; live cell imaging