Heterogeneity of transmitter receptor-linked Ca2+ signals in astrocytes II

星形胶质细胞是中枢神经系统的主要细胞群。虽然它们是电不可兴奋的，但它们显示出Ca2+信号的复杂空间和时间模式。这种复杂性不仅局限于细胞内分布，而且在相邻的星形胶质细胞或星形胶质细胞亚群之间也存在差异。在这里，我们将研究星形胶质细胞表达的受体对这些Ca2+信号的调节，这些受体对一系列兴奋性、抑制性和调节性递质有反应。采用诱导重组和星形胶质细胞特异性基因重组，结合体内双光子激光扫描显微镜和电生理学研究嘌呤能受体亚基P2Y1、nmda型谷氨酸受体NR1、GABAB受体GB1和腺苷A1受体对小鼠脑功能和行为的影响。

Astrocytes represent a main cell population in the central nervous system. Although they are electrically non-excitable, they display a complex spatial and temporal pattern of Ca2+ signals. The complexity is not only restricted to the intracellular distribution, but varies also among adjacent astrocytes or astrocyte subpopulation. Here, we will study the modulation of these Ca2+ signals by astrocyte-expressed receptors that are responsive to a range of excitatory, inhibitory and modulatory transmitters. Inducible and astrocyte-specific gene recombination in combination with in vivo two-photon laser-scanning microscopy and electrophysiology will be employed to study the impact of the purinergic receptor subunit P2Y1, the NMDA-type glutamate receptor NR1, the GABAB receptor GB1 and the adenosine A1 receptor on mouse brain function and behavior.