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Köhler S, Winkler U, Junge T, Lippmann K, Eilers J, Hirrlinger J. Gray and white matter astrocytes differ in basal metabolism but respond similarly to neuronal activity. Glia 2023; 71:229-244. [PMID: 36063073 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are a heterogeneous population of glial cells in the brain, which adapt their properties to the requirements of the local environment. Two major groups of astrocytes are protoplasmic astrocytes residing in gray matter as well as fibrous astrocytes of white matter. Here, we compared the energy metabolism of astrocytes in the cortex and corpus callosum as representative gray matter and white matter regions, in acute brain slices taking advantage of genetically encoded fluorescent nanosensors for the NADH/NAD+ redox ratio and for ATP. Astrocytes of the corpus callosum presented a more reduced basal NADH/NAD+ redox ratio, and a lower cytosolic concentration of ATP compared to cortical astrocytes. In cortical astrocytes, the neurotransmitter glutamate and increased extracellular concentrations of K+ , typical correlates of neuronal activity, induced a more reduced NADH/NAD+ redox ratio. While application of glutamate decreased [ATP], K+ as well as the combination of glutamate and K+ resulted in an increase of ATP levels. Strikingly, a very similar regulation of metabolism by K+ and glutamate was observed in astrocytes in the corpus callosum. Finally, strong intrinsic neuronal activity provoked by application of bicuculline and withdrawal of Mg2+ caused a shift of the NADH/NAD+ redox ratio to a more reduced state as well as a slight reduction of [ATP] in gray and white matter astrocytes. In summary, the metabolism of astrocytes in cortex and corpus callosum shows distinct basal properties, but qualitatively similar responses to neuronal activity, probably reflecting the different environment and requirements of these brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Köhler
- Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Winkler
- Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tabea Junge
- Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kristina Lippmann
- Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Eilers
- Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johannes Hirrlinger
- Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
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2
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Dorgans K, Guo D, Kurima K, Wickens J, Uusisaari MY. Designing AAV Vectors for Monitoring the Subtle Calcium Fluctuations of Inferior Olive Network in vivo. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:825056. [PMID: 35573836 PMCID: PMC9093741 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.825056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors, used as vehicles for gene transfer into the brain, are a versatile and powerful tool of modern neuroscience that allow identifying specific neuronal populations, monitoring and modulating their activity. For consistent and reproducible results, the AAV vectors must be engineered so that they reliably and accurately target cell populations. Furthermore, transgene expression must be adjusted to sufficient and safe levels compatible with the physiology of studied cells. We undertook the effort to identify and validate an AAV vector that could be utilized for researching the inferior olivary (IO) nucleus, a structure gating critical timing-related signals to the cerebellum. By means of systematic construct generation and quantitative expression profiling, we succeeded in creating a viral tool for specific and strong transfection of the IO neurons without adverse effects on their physiology. The potential of these tools is demonstrated by expressing the calcium sensor GCaMP6s in adult mouse IO neurons. We could monitor subtle calcium fluctuations underlying two signatures of intrinsic IO activity: the subthreshold oscillations (STOs) and the variable-duration action potential waveforms both in-vitro and in-vivo. Further, we show that the expression levels of GCaMP6s allowing such recordings are compatible with the delicate calcium-based dynamics of IO neurons, inviting future work into the network dynamics of the olivo-cerebellar system in behaving animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Dorgans
- Neuronal Rhythms in Movement Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Da Guo
- Neuronal Rhythms in Movement Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Kurima
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Jeff Wickens
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Marylka Yoe Uusisaari
- Neuronal Rhythms in Movement Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
- *Correspondence: Marylka Yoe Uusisaari
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Köhler S, Schmidt H, Fülle P, Hirrlinger J, Winkler U. A Dual Nanosensor Approach to Determine the Cytosolic Concentration of ATP in Astrocytes. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:565921. [PMID: 33192312 PMCID: PMC7530325 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.565921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the central energy carrier of all cells and knowledge on the dynamics of the concentration of ATP ([ATP]) provides important insights into the energetic state of a cell. Several genetically encoded fluorescent nanosensors for ATP were developed, which allow following the cytosolic [ATP] at high spatial and temporal resolution using fluorescence microscopy. However, to calibrate the fluorescent signal to [ATP] has remained challenging. To estimate basal cytosolic [ATP] ([ATP]0) in astrocytes, we here took advantage of two ATP nanosensors of the ATeam-family (ATeam1.03; ATeam1.03YEMK) with different affinities for ATP. Altering [ATP] by external stimuli resulted in characteristic pairs of signal changes of both nanosensors, which depend on [ATP]0. Using this dual nanosensor strategy and epifluorescence microscopy, [ATP]0 was estimated to be around 1.5 mM in primary cultures of cortical astrocytes from mice. Furthermore, in astrocytes in acutely isolated cortical slices from mice expressing both nanosensors after stereotactic injection of AAV-vectors, 2-photon microscopy revealed [ATP]0 of 0.7 mM to 1.3 mM. Finally, the change in [ATP] induced in the cytosol of cultured cortical astrocytes by application of azide, glutamate, and an increased extracellular concentration of K+ were calculated as −0.50 mM, −0.16 mM, and 0.07 mM, respectively. In summary, the dual nanosensor approach adds another option for determining the concentration of [ATP] to the increasing toolbox of fluorescent nanosensors for metabolites. This approach can also be applied to other metabolites when two sensors with different binding properties are available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Köhler
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hartmut Schmidt
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Paula Fülle
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Wilhelm-Ostwald-Schule, Gymnasium der Stadt Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johannes Hirrlinger
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Winkler
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Kaiser N, Pätz C, Brachtendorf S, Eilers J, Bechmann I. Undisturbed climbing fiber pruning in the cerebellar cortex of CX 3 CR1-deficient mice. Glia 2020; 68:2316-2329. [PMID: 32488990 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Pruning, the elimination of excess synapses is a phenomenon of fundamental importance for correct wiring of the central nervous system. The establishment of the cerebellar climbing fiber (CF)-to-Purkinje cell (PC) synapse provides a suitable model to study pruning and pruning-relevant processes during early postnatal development. Until now, the role of microglia in pruning remains under intense investigation. Here, we analyzed migration of microglia into the cerebellar cortex during early postnatal development and their possible contribution to the elimination of CF-to-PC synapses. Microglia enrich in the PC layer at pruning-relevant time points giving rise to the possibility that microglia are actively involved in synaptic pruning. We investigated the contribution of microglial fractalkine (CX3 CR1) signaling during postnatal development using genetic ablation of the CX3 CR1 receptor and an in-depth histological analysis of the cerebellar cortex. We found an aberrant migration of microglia into the granule and the molecular layer. By electrophysiological analysis, we show that defective fractalkine signaling and the associated migration deficits neither affect the pruning of excess CFs nor the development of functional parallel fiber and inhibitory synapses with PCs. These findings indicate that CX3 CR1 signaling is not mandatory for correct cerebellar circuit formation. MAIN POINTS: Ablation of CX3 CR1 results in a transient migration defect in cerebellar microglia. CX3 CR1 is not required for functional pruning of cerebellar climbing fibers. Functional inhibitory and parallel fiber synapse development with Purkinje cells is undisturbed in CX3 CR1-deficient mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Kaiser
- Institute for Anatomy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christina Pätz
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Simone Brachtendorf
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Eilers
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ingo Bechmann
- Institute for Anatomy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Pätz C, Brachtendorf S, Eilers J. Developmental Easing of Short-Term Depression in "Winner" Climbing Fibers. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:183. [PMID: 31118890 PMCID: PMC6504704 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The postnatal development of cerebellar climbing fiber (CF) to Purkinje neuron (PN) synapses is characterized by a substantial pruning during the first 3 weeks after birth, switching from multiple- to single-CF innervation. Previous studies suggested that CF maturation is governed by bidirectional changes of synaptic plasticity. The strengthening of surviving "winner" CFs, which translocate from the PN soma to the dendrite, is thought to be guided by long-term potentiation (LTP), while weakening of to-be-eliminated "loser" CFs, which remain on the soma, was proposed to be due to long-term depression (LTD). However, there are conflicting results from previous studies, whether or not strengthening of winner and weakening of loser CFs during postnatal development is accompanied by changes in short-term plasticity and, thus, whether pre- or postsynaptic forms of LTD and LTP are operational. We, therefore, analyzed the developmental profile of paired-pulse depression (PPD) in "weak" and "strong" CFs in 3-21-day old Igsf9-eGFP mice, which allow visual identification of GFP-labeled CFs. We found that in 3-8-day old mice strong CFs are marked by a stronger PPD compared to weak CFs. Surprisingly, PPD of strong CFs eases during maturation, while PPD in weak CFs remains unchanged. This easing of PPD is neither due to changes in presynaptic influx-release coupling nor to an increased saturation of postsynaptic receptors. Thus, our results imply that synaptic contacts of CFs show distinct features of PPD depending on their affiliation to winner or loser CFs and depending on their somatic or dendritic location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Pätz
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Simone Brachtendorf
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Eilers
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Lerchundi R, Kafitz KW, Winkler U, Färfers M, Hirrlinger J, Rose CR. FRET-based imaging of intracellular ATP in organotypic brain slices. J Neurosci Res 2018; 97:933-945. [PMID: 30506574 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Active neurons require a substantial amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to re-establish ion gradients degraded by ion flux across their plasma membranes. Despite this fact, neurons, in contrast to astrocytes, do not contain any significant stores of energy substrates. Recent work has provided evidence for a neuro-metabolic coupling between both cell types, in which increased glycolysis and lactate production in astrocytes support neuronal metabolism. Here, we established the cell type-specific expression of the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) based nanosensor ATeam1.03YEMK ("Ateam") for dynamic measurement of changes in intracellular ATP levels in organotypic brain tissue slices. To this end, adeno-associated viral vectors coding for Ateam, driven by either the synapsin- or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter were employed for specific transduction of neurons or astrocytes, respectively. Chemical ischemia, induced by perfusion of tissue slices with metabolic inhibitors of cellular glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration, resulted in a rapid decrease in the cellular Ateam signal to a new, low level, indicating nominal depletion of intracellular ATP. Increasing the extracellular potassium concentration to 8 mM, thereby mimicking the release of potassium from active neurons, did not alter ATP levels in neurons. It, however, caused in an increase in ATP levels in astrocytes, a result which was confirmed in acutely isolated tissue slices. In summary, our results demonstrate that organotypic cultured slices are a reliable tool for FRET-based dynamic imaging of ATP in neurons and astrocytes. They moreover provide evidence for an increased ATP synthesis in astrocytes, but not neurons, during periods of elevated extracellular potassium concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Lerchundi
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Neurobiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Karl W Kafitz
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Neurobiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ulrike Winkler
- Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marcel Färfers
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Neurobiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Johannes Hirrlinger
- Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christine R Rose
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Neurobiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Köhler S, Winkler U, Sicker M, Hirrlinger J. NBCe1 mediates the regulation of the NADH/NAD + redox state in cortical astrocytes by neuronal signals. Glia 2018; 66:2233-2245. [PMID: 30208253 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are a glial cell type, which is indispensable for brain energy metabolism. Within cells, the NADH/NAD+ redox state is a crucial node in metabolism connecting catabolic pathways to oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production in mitochondria. To characterize the dynamics of the intracellular NADH/NAD+ redox state in cortical astrocytes Peredox, a genetically encoded sensor for the NADH/NAD+ redox state, was expressed in cultured cortical astrocytes as well as in cortical astrocytes in acutely isolated brain slices. Calibration of the sensor in cultured astrocytes revealed a mean basal cytosolic NADH/NAD+ redox ratio of about 0.01; however, with a broad distribution and heterogeneity in the cell population, which was mirrored by a heterogeneous basal cellular concentration of lactate. Inhibition of glucose uptake decreased the NADH/NAD+ redox state while inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase or of lactate release resulted in an increase in the NADH/NAD+ redox ratio. Furthermore, the NADH/NAD+ redox state was regulated by the extracellular concentration of K+ , and application of the neurotransmitters ATP or glutamate increased the NADH/NAD+ redox state dependent on purinergic receptors and glutamate uptake, respectively. This regulation by K+ , ATP, and glutamate involved NBCe1 mediated sodium-bicarbonate transport. These results demonstrate that the NADH/NAD+ redox state in astrocytes is a metabolic node regulated by neuronal signals reflecting physiological activity, most likely contributing to adjust astrocytic metabolism to energy demand of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Köhler
- Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Winkler
- Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marit Sicker
- Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johannes Hirrlinger
- Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
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