Analysis of interaction between glial cells in the cerebral cortex

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Recently, it has been reported that the interactions between astrocyte and neurons or microglia and neurons play important roles in the efficacy of neurotransmission or elaboration of neuronal circuits. Therefore, at first, we aim to study neuronal-activity-dependent interactions between microglia and neurons. Repetitive action potentials evoked in pyramidal neurons elicited an axonal swelling that could be accompanied by a sustained (>10min) and large (>20mV) depolarization with likely pathological consequences. Microglial processes migrated to these swollen axons in a mechanism involving both ATP and glutamate releases via volume-activated anion channels. This migration to swollen axons was followed by intensive microglial wrapping that could strip off the distorted axon compartment and subsequently rapidly restore the resting membrane potential and rescue neurons from depolarization induced death.