Role of astrocytic remodeling in sleep/wake regulation

越来越多的证据表明，星形胶质细胞在包括突触可塑性在内的脑功能中发挥着重要作用。星形胶质细胞在几分钟内表现出其远端突起的快速重塑。星形胶质细胞的重塑可以发生在对稳态挑战的反应中，这些结构的变化可以改变突触的有效性和神经元的兴奋性。我们假设星形胶质细胞通过动态重塑突触周围突触过程来调节关键的睡眠/唤醒神经元，从而在睡眠/觉醒调节中发挥作用。我们将使用急性(6h)睡眠剥夺(SD)来延长大鼠的清醒时间，以及未受干扰和恢复的条件，并结合形态学(免疫组织化学、共聚焦显微镜)、电生理(膜片钳记录)和行为(EEG和EMG记录，星形胶质细胞功能的抑制物)技术。

Increasing evidence indicates that astrocytes play important roles in brain functions, including synaptic plasticity. Astrocytes demonstrate rapid remodeling of their distal processes over the course of minutes. Astrocytic remodeling can occur in response to homeostatic challenges, and these structural changes can alter synaptic efficacy and neuronal excitability. We hypothesize that astrocytes play a role in sleep/wake regulation through dynamic remodeling of their perisynaptic processes to regulate key sleep/wake-promoting neurons. We will use acute (6 h) sleep deprivation (SD) for prolonged wakefulness, along with undisturbed and recovery conditions, in conjunction with morphological (immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy), electrophysiological (patch-clamp recording), and behavioural (EEG & EMG recording, inhibitors of astrocyte functions) techniques in rats.