Functional analysis of gliotransmitters

我们分析了一个可诱导的转基因小鼠模型，其中肌醇1,4,5-三磷酸吸收剂“ip3海绵”的表达减弱了星形细胞Ca^<2+>信号。电镜观察发现，这些动物的三方突触形态发生改变，Ca^<2+>活性减弱与海马CA1突触星形细胞覆盖减少相关。这一发现提示星形胶质细胞Ca^<2+>信号诱导胶质递质分泌在形成功能性三方突触中起关键作用。

We analyzed an inducible transgenic mouse model in which the expression of an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate absorbent “IP3-sponge” attenuated astrocytic Ca^<2+> signaling. In electron microscopy, the morphology of tripartite synapses was changed and the attenuated Ca^<2+> activity correlated with reduced astrocytic coverage of synapses in hippocampal CA1 in these animals. This finding suggests that astrocytic Ca^<2+> signaling that induces gliotransmitter secretion has a critical role in forming functional tripartite synapses.