Role of astrocytic remodeling in sleep/wake regulation

越来越多的证据表明星形胶质细胞在脑功能中发挥重要作用，包括突触可塑性。星形胶质细胞在几分钟内表现出其远端突起的快速重塑。星形胶质细胞重塑可以发生在对稳态挑战的反应中，这些结构变化可以改变突触的功效和神经元的兴奋性。我们假设星形胶质细胞通过动态重塑其突触周围过程来调节关键的睡眠/觉醒神经元，从而在睡眠/觉醒调节中发挥作用。我们将在大鼠中使用急性（6小时）睡眠剥夺（SD）来延长清醒时间，同时在不受干扰和恢复的情况下，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（脑电图和肌电图记录，星形胶质细胞功能抑制剂）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.