1
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Zaforas M, Miguel-Quesada C, Fernández-López E, Alonso-Calviño E, Barranco-Maresca V, Misol-Ortiz A, Aguilar J, Rosa JM. Protocol for stimulating specific rodent limb receptive fields while recording in vivo somatosensory-evoked activity. STAR Protoc 2024; 5:102972. [PMID: 38502685 PMCID: PMC10960094 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.102972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies on sensory information processing typically focus on whisker-related tactile information, overlooking the question of how sensory inputs from other body areas are processed at cortical levels. Here, we present a protocol for stimulating specific rodent limb receptive fields while recording in vivo somatosensory-evoked activity. We describe steps for localizing cortical-hindlimb coordinates using acute peripheral stimulation, electrode placement, and the application of electrical stimulation. This protocol overcomes the challenge of inducing a reproducible and consistent stimulation of specific limbs. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Miguel-Quesada et al.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Zaforas
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos. SESCAM, 45071 Toledo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain.
| | - Claudia Miguel-Quesada
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos. SESCAM, 45071 Toledo, Spain; Neuronal Circuits and Behaviour Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Elena Fernández-López
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos. SESCAM, 45071 Toledo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Elena Alonso-Calviño
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos. SESCAM, 45071 Toledo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Verónica Barranco-Maresca
- Neuronal Circuits and Behaviour Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, 45071 Toledo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Andrea Misol-Ortiz
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos. SESCAM, 45071 Toledo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Juan Aguilar
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos. SESCAM, 45071 Toledo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Juliana M Rosa
- Neuronal Circuits and Behaviour Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, 45071 Toledo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain.
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2
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Negrón-Oyarzo I, Dib T, Chacana-Véliz L, López-Quilodrán N, Urrutia-Piñones J. Large-scale coupling of prefrontal activity patterns as a mechanism for cognitive control in health and disease: evidence from rodent models. Front Neural Circuits 2024; 18:1286111. [PMID: 38638163 PMCID: PMC11024307 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1286111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cognitive control of behavior is crucial for well-being, as allows subject to adapt to changing environments in a goal-directed way. Changes in cognitive control of behavior is observed during cognitive decline in elderly and in pathological mental conditions. Therefore, the recovery of cognitive control may provide a reliable preventive and therapeutic strategy. However, its neural basis is not completely understood. Cognitive control is supported by the prefrontal cortex, structure that integrates relevant information for the appropriate organization of behavior. At neurophysiological level, it is suggested that cognitive control is supported by local and large-scale synchronization of oscillatory activity patterns and neural spiking activity between the prefrontal cortex and distributed neural networks. In this review, we focus mainly on rodent models approaching the neuronal origin of these prefrontal patterns, and the cognitive and behavioral relevance of its coordination with distributed brain systems. We also examine the relationship between cognitive control and neural activity patterns in the prefrontal cortex, and its role in normal cognitive decline and pathological mental conditions. Finally, based on these body of evidence, we propose a common mechanism that may underlie the impaired cognitive control of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Negrón-Oyarzo
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Tatiana Dib
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Lorena Chacana-Véliz
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Mención en Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Nélida López-Quilodrán
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Mención en Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Jocelyn Urrutia-Piñones
- Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Mención en Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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3
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Parodi G, Zanini G, Chiappalone M, Martinoia S. Electrical and chemical modulation of homogeneous and heterogeneous human-iPSCs-derived neuronal networks on high density arrays. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1304507. [PMID: 38380114 PMCID: PMC10877635 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1304507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The delicate "Excitatory/Inhibitory balance" between neurons holds significance in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. With the ultimate goal of creating a faithful in vitro model of the human brain, in this study, we investigated the critical factor of heterogeneity, focusing on the interplay between excitatory glutamatergic (E) and inhibitory GABAergic (I) neurons in neural networks. We used high-density Micro-Electrode Arrays (MEA) with 2304 recording electrodes to investigate two neuronal culture configurations: 100% glutamatergic (100E) and 75% glutamatergic / 25% GABAergic (75E25I) neurons. This allowed us to comprehensively characterize the spontaneous electrophysiological activity exhibited by mature cultures at 56 Days in vitro, a time point in which the GABA shift has already occurred. We explored the impact of heterogeneity also through electrical stimulation, revealing that the 100E configuration responded reliably, while the 75E25I required more parameter tuning for improved responses. Chemical stimulation with BIC showed an increase in terms of firing and bursting activity only in the 75E25I condition, while APV and CNQX induced significant alterations on both dynamics and functional connectivity. Our findings advance understanding of diverse neuron interactions and their role in network activity, offering insights for potential therapeutic interventions in neurological conditions. Overall, this work contributes to the development of a valuable human-based in vitro system for studying physiological and pathological conditions, emphasizing the pivotal role of neuron diversity in neural network dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sergio Martinoia
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
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4
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Arjmandi-Rad S, Vestergaard Nieland JD, Goozee KG, Vaseghi S. The effects of different acetylcholinesterase inhibitors on EEG patterns in patients with Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:417-430. [PMID: 37843690 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-07114-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common type of dementia. The early diagnosis of AD is an important factor for the control of AD progression. Electroencephalography (EEG) can be used for early diagnosis of AD. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are also used for the amelioration of AD symptoms. In this systematic review, we reviewed the effect of different AChEIs including donepezil, rivastigmine, tacrine, physostigmine, and galantamine on EEG patterns in patients with AD. METHODS PubMed electronic database was searched and 122 articles were found. After removal of unrelated articles, 24 articles were selected for the present study. RESULTS AChEIs can decrease beta, theta, and delta frequency bands in patients with AD. However, conflicting results were found for alpha band. Some studies have shown increased alpha frequency, while others have shown decreased alpha frequency following treatment with AChEIs. The only difference was the type of drug. CONCLUSIONS We found that studies reporting the decreased alpha frequency used donepezil and galantamine, while studies reporting the increased alpha frequency used rivastigmine and tacrine. It was suggested that future studies should focus on the effect of different AChEIs on EEG bands, especially alpha frequency in patients with AD, to compare their effects and find the reason for their different influence on EEG patterns. Also, differences between the effects of AChEIs on oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination may be another important factor. This is the first article investigating the effect of different AChEIs on EEG patterns in patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Arjmandi-Rad
- Institute for Cognitive & Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Kathryn G Goozee
- KaRa Institute of Neurological Diseases Pty Ltd, Macquarie, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Salar Vaseghi
- Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Medicinal Plants Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj, Iran.
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5
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Gorbachevskii AV, Kicherova OA, Reikhert LI. [The role of astrocytes, circadian rhythms and light pollution in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2024; 124:20-25. [PMID: 39072562 DOI: 10.17116/jnevro202412406120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Currently, more and more importance is being attached to the interaction of brain neurons with astrocytes in order to study the pathogenesis, and in the future, to develop methods for the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases of the brain. In this review article, the authors attempt to demonstrate the role of astrocytes, disturbances in circadian rhythms, sleep-wake patterns, and light pollution in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Based on the analysis of literature data, possible mechanisms of synchronization and desynchronization of these processes are presented.
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6
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Gamage R, Rossetti I, Niedermayer G, Münch G, Buskila Y, Gyengesi E. Chronic neuroinflammation during aging leads to cholinergic neurodegeneration in the mouse medial septum. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:235. [PMID: 37833764 PMCID: PMC10576363 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02897-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low-grade, chronic inflammation in the central nervous system characterized by glial reactivity is one of the major hallmarks for aging-related neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD). The basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCN) provide the primary source of cholinergic innervation of the human cerebral cortex and may be differentially vulnerable in various neurodegenerative diseases. However, the impact of chronic neuroinflammation on the cholinergic function is still unclear. METHODS To gain further insight into age-related cholinergic decline, we investigated the cumulative effects of aging and chronic neuroinflammation on the structure and function of the septal cholinergic neurons in transgenic mice expressing interleukin-6 under the GFAP promoter (GFAP-IL6), which maintains a constant level of gliosis. Immunohistochemistry combined with unbiased stereology, single cell 3D morphology analysis and in vitro whole cell patch-clamp measurements were used to validate the structural and functional changes of BFCN and their microglial environment in the medial septum. RESULTS Stereological estimation of MS microglia number displayed significant increase across all three age groups, while a significant decrease in cholinergic cell number in the adult and aged groups in GFAP-IL6 mice compared to control. Moreover, we observed age-dependent alterations in the electrophysiological properties of cholinergic neurons and an increased excitability profile in the adult GFAP-IL6 group due to chronic neuroinflammation. These results complimented the significant decrease in hippocampal pyramidal spine density seen with aging and neuroinflammation. CONCLUSIONS We provide evidence of the significant impact of both aging and chronic glial activation on the cholinergic and microglial numbers and morphology in the MS, and alterations in the passive and active electrophysiological membrane properties of septal cholinergic neurons, resulting in cholinergic dysfunction, as seen in AD. Our results indicate that aging combined with gliosis is sufficient to cause cholinergic disruptions in the brain, as seen in dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi Gamage
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Ilaria Rossetti
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Garry Niedermayer
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Gerald Münch
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Yossi Buskila
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Erika Gyengesi
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
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7
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Brazhe A, Verisokin A, Verveyko D, Postnov D. Astrocytes: new evidence, new models, new roles. Biophys Rev 2023; 15:1303-1333. [PMID: 37975000 PMCID: PMC10643736 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01145-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes have been in the limelight of active research for about 3 decades now. Over this period, ideas about their function and role in the nervous system have evolved from simple assistance in energy supply and homeostasis maintenance to a complex informational and metabolic hub that integrates data on local neuronal activity, sensory and arousal context, and orchestrates many crucial processes in the brain. Rapid progress in experimental techniques and data analysis produces a growing body of data, which can be used as a foundation for formulation of new hypotheses, building new refined mathematical models, and ultimately should lead to a new level of understanding of the contribution of astrocytes to the cognitive tasks performed by the brain. Here, we highlight recent progress in astrocyte research, which we believe expands our understanding of how low-level signaling at a cellular level builds up to processes at the level of the whole brain and animal behavior. We start our review with revisiting data on the role of noradrenaline-mediated astrocytic signaling in locomotion, arousal, sensory integration, memory, and sleep. We then briefly review astrocyte contribution to the regulation of cerebral blood flow regulation, which is followed by a discussion of biophysical mechanisms underlying astrocyte effects on different brain processes. The experimental section is closed by an overview of recent experimental techniques available for modulation and visualization of astrocyte dynamics. We then evaluate how the new data can be potentially incorporated into the new mathematical models or where and how it already has been done. Finally, we discuss an interesting prospect that astrocytes may be key players in important processes such as the switching between sleep and wakefulness and the removal of toxic metabolites from the brain milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Brazhe
- Department of Biophysics, Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1/24, Moscow, 119234 Russia
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, GSP-7, Miklukho-Maklay Str., 16/10, Moscow, 117997 Russia
| | - Andrey Verisokin
- Department of Theoretical Physics, Kursk State University, Radishcheva st., 33, Kursk, 305000 Russia
| | - Darya Verveyko
- Department of Theoretical Physics, Kursk State University, Radishcheva st., 33, Kursk, 305000 Russia
| | - Dmitry Postnov
- Department of Optics and Biophotonics, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya st., 83, Saratov, 410012 Russia
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8
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Hastings N, Yu Y, Huang B, Middya S, Inaoka M, Erkamp NA, Mason RJ, Carnicer‐Lombarte A, Rahman S, Knowles TPJ, Bance M, Malliaras GG, Kotter MRN. Electrophysiological In Vitro Study of Long-Range Signal Transmission by Astrocytic Networks. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2301756. [PMID: 37485646 PMCID: PMC10582426 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202301756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are diverse brain cells that form large networks communicating via gap junctions and chemical transmitters. Despite recent advances, the functions of astrocytic networks in information processing in the brain are not fully understood. In culture, brain slices, and in vivo, astrocytes, and neurons grow in tight association, making it challenging to establish whether signals that spread within astrocytic networks communicate with neuronal groups at distant sites, or whether astrocytes solely respond to their local environments. A multi-electrode array (MEA)-based device called AstroMEA is designed to separate neuronal and astrocytic networks, thus allowing to study the transfer of chemical and/or electrical signals transmitted via astrocytic networks capable of changing neuronal electrical behavior. AstroMEA demonstrates that cortical astrocytic networks can induce a significant upregulation in the firing frequency of neurons in response to a theta-burst charge-balanced biphasic current stimulation (5 pulses of 100 Hz × 10 with 200 ms intervals, 2 s total duration) of a separate neuronal-astrocytic group in the absence of direct neuronal contact. This result corroborates the view of astrocytic networks as a parallel mechanism of signal transmission in the brain that is separate from the neuronal connectome. Translationally, it highlights the importance of astrocytic network protection as a treatment target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataly Hastings
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
- Wellcome‐MRC Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0AWUK
- Electrical Engineering DivisionDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Yi‐Lin Yu
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
- Department of Neurological SurgeryTri‐Service General HospitalNational Defence Medical CentreTaipei, Neihu District11490Taiwan
| | - Botian Huang
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
| | - Sagnik Middya
- Electrical Engineering DivisionDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Misaki Inaoka
- Electrical Engineering DivisionDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Nadia A. Erkamp
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryCentre for Misfolding DiseasesUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
| | - Roger J. Mason
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
| | | | - Saifur Rahman
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
- Wellcome‐MRC Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0AWUK
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryCentre for Misfolding DiseasesUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
- Cavendish LaboratoryDepartment of PhysicsUniversity of CambridgeJ J Thomson AveCambridgeCB3 0HEUK
| | - Manohar Bance
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
| | - George G. Malliaras
- Electrical Engineering DivisionDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Mark R. N. Kotter
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
- Wellcome‐MRC Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0AWUK
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9
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Miguel-Quesada C, Zaforas M, Herrera-Pérez S, Lines J, Fernández-López E, Alonso-Calviño E, Ardaya M, Soria FN, Araque A, Aguilar J, Rosa JM. Astrocytes adjust the dynamic range of cortical network activity to control modality-specific sensory information processing. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112950. [PMID: 37543946 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortical neuron-astrocyte communication in response to peripheral sensory stimulation occurs in a topographic-, frequency-, and intensity-dependent manner. However, the contribution of this functional interaction to the processing of sensory inputs and consequent behavior remains unclear. We investigate the role of astrocytes in sensory information processing at circuit and behavioral levels by monitoring and manipulating astrocytic activity in vivo. We show that astrocytes control the dynamic range of the cortical network activity, optimizing its responsiveness to incoming sensory inputs. The astrocytic modulation of sensory processing contributes to setting the detection threshold for tactile and thermal behavior responses. The mechanism of such astrocytic control is mediated through modulation of inhibitory transmission to adjust the gain and sensitivity of responding networks. These results uncover a role for astrocytes in maintaining the cortical network activity in an optimal range to control behavior associated with specific sensory modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Miguel-Quesada
- Neuronal Circuits and Behaviour Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain; Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Marta Zaforas
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Salvador Herrera-Pérez
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Justin Lines
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Elena Fernández-López
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Elena Alonso-Calviño
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Maria Ardaya
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), 20018 San Sebastian, Spain; Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Federico N Soria
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, 48940 Leioa, Spain; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Araque
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Juan Aguilar
- Experimental Neurophysiology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain.
| | - Juliana M Rosa
- Neuronal Circuits and Behaviour Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain.
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10
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Purushotham SS, Buskila Y. Astrocytic modulation of neuronal signalling. FRONTIERS IN NETWORK PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 3:1205544. [PMID: 37332623 PMCID: PMC10269688 DOI: 10.3389/fnetp.2023.1205544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal signalling is a key element in neuronal communication and is essential for the proper functioning of the CNS. Astrocytes, the most prominent glia in the brain play a key role in modulating neuronal signalling at the molecular, synaptic, cellular, and network levels. Over the past few decades, our knowledge about astrocytes and their functioning has evolved from considering them as merely a brain glue that provides structural support to neurons, to key communication elements. Astrocytes can regulate the activity of neurons by controlling the concentrations of ions and neurotransmitters in the extracellular milieu, as well as releasing chemicals and gliotransmitters that modulate neuronal activity. The aim of this review is to summarise the main processes through which astrocytes are modulating brain function. We will systematically distinguish between direct and indirect pathways in which astrocytes affect neuronal signalling at all levels. Lastly, we will summarize pathological conditions that arise once these signalling pathways are impaired focusing on neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yossi Buskila
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
- The MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
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11
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Barbay T, Pecchi E, Ducrocq M, Rouach N, Brocard F, Bos R. Astrocytic Kir4.1 channels regulate locomotion by orchestrating neuronal rhythmicity in the spinal network. Glia 2023; 71:1259-1277. [PMID: 36645018 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal rhythmogenesis in the spinal cord is correlated with variations in extracellular K+ levels ([K+ ]e ). Astrocytes play important role in [K+ ]e homeostasis and compute neuronal information. Yet it is unclear how neuronal oscillations are regulated by astrocytic K+ homeostasis. Here we identify the astrocytic inward-rectifying K+ channel Kir4.1 (a.k.a. Kcnj10) as a key molecular player for neuronal rhythmicity in the spinal central pattern generator (CPG). By combining two-photon calcium imaging with electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry and genetic tools, we report that astrocytes display Ca2+ transients before and during oscillations of neighboring neurons. Inhibition of astrocytic Ca2+ transients with BAPTA decreases the barium-sensitive Kir4.1 current responsible of K+ clearance. Finally, we show in mice that Kir4.1 knockdown in astrocytes progressively prevents neuronal oscillations and alters the locomotor pattern resulting in lower motor performances in challenging tasks. These data identify astroglial Kir4.1 channels as key regulators of neuronal rhythmogenesis in the CPG driving locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Barbay
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
| | - Emilie Pecchi
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
| | - Myriam Ducrocq
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
| | - Nathalie Rouach
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Labex Memolife, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Brocard
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
| | - Rémi Bos
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
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12
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Stasenko SV, Hramov AE, Kazantsev VB. Loss of neuron network coherence induced by virus-infected astrocytes: a model study. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6401. [PMID: 37076526 PMCID: PMC10115799 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33622-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Coherent activations of brain neuron networks underlie many physiological functions associated with various behavioral states. These synchronous fluctuations in the electrical activity of the brain are also referred to as brain rhythms. At the cellular level, rhythmicity can be induced by various mechanisms of intrinsic oscillations in neurons or the network circulation of excitation between synaptically coupled neurons. One specific mechanism concerns the activity of brain astrocytes that accompany neurons and can coherently modulate synaptic contacts of neighboring neurons, synchronizing their activity. Recent studies have shown that coronavirus infection (Covid-19), which enters the central nervous system and infects astrocytes, can cause various metabolic disorders. Specifically, Covid-19 can depress the synthesis of astrocytic glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid. It is also known that in the post-Covid state, patients may suffer from symptoms of anxiety and impaired cognitive functions. We propose a mathematical model of a spiking neuron network accompanied by astrocytes capable of generating quasi-synchronous rhythmic bursting discharges. The model predicts that if the release of glutamate is depressed, normal burst rhythmicity will suffer dramatically. Interestingly, in some cases, the failure of network coherence may be intermittent, with intervals of normal rhythmicity, or the synchronization can disappear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey V Stasenko
- Scientific-educational mathematical center "Mathematics of future technologies", Lobachevsky University, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, 603022.
- Laboratory of neurobiomorphic technologies, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia, 117303.
| | - Alexander E Hramov
- Baltic Center for Artificial Intelligence and Neurotechnology, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Kaliningrad, Russia, 236041
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia, 443099
| | - Victor B Kazantsev
- Scientific-educational mathematical center "Mathematics of future technologies", Lobachevsky University, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, 603022
- Laboratory of neurobiomorphic technologies, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia, 117303
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13
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Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya O, Karavaev A, Prokhorov M, Runnova A, Borovkova E, Yu.M. I, Hramkov A, Kulminskiy D, Semenova N, Sergeev K, Slepnev A, Yu. SE, Zhuravlev M, Fedosov I, Shirokov A, Blokhina I, Dubrovski A, Terskov A, Khorovodov A, Ageev V, Elovenko D, Evsukova A, Adushkina V, Telnova V, Postnov D, Penzel T, Kurths J. EEG biomarkers of activation of the lymphatic drainage system of the brain during sleep and opening of the blood-brain barrier. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 21:758-768. [PMID: 36698965 PMCID: PMC9841170 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The lymphatic drainage system of the brain (LDSB) is the removal of metabolites and wastes from its tissues. A dysfunction of LDSB is an important sign of aging, brain oncology, the Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The development of new strategies for diagnosis of LDSB injuries can improve prevention of age-related cerebral amyloid angiopathy, neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. There are two conditions, such as deep sleep and opening of the blood-brain-barrier (OBBB) associated with the LDSB activation. A promising candidate for measurement of LDSB could be electroencephalography (EEG). In this pilot study on rats, we tested the hypothesis, whether deep sleep and OBBB can be an informative platform for an effective extracting of information about the LDSB functions. Using the nonlinear analysis of EEG dynamics and machine learning technology, we discovered that the LDSB activation during OBBB and sleep is associated with similar changes in the EEG θ-activity. The OBBB causes the higher LDSB activation vs. sleep that is accompanied by specific changes in the low frequency EEG activity extracted by the power spectra analysis of the EEG dynamics combined with the coherence function. Thus, our findings demonstrate a link between neural activity associated with the LDSB activation during sleep and OBBB that is an important informative platform for extraction of the EEG-biomarkers of the LDSB activity. These results open new perspectives for the development of technology for the LDSB diagnostics that would open a novel era in the prognosis of brain diseases caused by the LDSB disorders, including OBBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- O.V. Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya
- Physics Department, Humboldt University, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany,Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia,Corresponding author at: Physics Department, Humboldt University, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
| | - A.S. Karavaev
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany,Saratov Branchof the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Zelyonaya, 38, Saratov, 410019, Russia,Saratov State Medical University, B.Kazachaya str., 112, Saratov, 410012, Russia,Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of Russian Academy of Sciences, (IHNA&NPh RAS), 5AButlerova St., Moscow 117485, Russia
| | - M.D. Prokhorov
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia,Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany,Saratov Branchof the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Zelyonaya, 38, Saratov, 410019, Russia
| | - A.E. Runnova
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia,Saratov State Medical University, B.Kazachaya str., 112, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - E.I. Borovkova
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia,Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany,Saratov State Medical University, B.Kazachaya str., 112, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - Ishbulatov Yu.M.
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia,Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany,Saratov Branchof the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Zelyonaya, 38, Saratov, 410019, Russia,Saratov State Medical University, B.Kazachaya str., 112, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - A.N. Hramkov
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - D.D. Kulminskiy
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - N.I. Semenova
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - K.S. Sergeev
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - A.V. Slepnev
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - Sitnikova E. Yu.
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia,Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of Russian Academy of Sciences, (IHNA&NPh RAS), 5AButlerova St., Moscow 117485, Russia
| | - M.O. Zhuravlev
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia,Saratov State Medical University, B.Kazachaya str., 112, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - I.V. Fedosov
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - A.A. Shirokov
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia,Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants and Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, ProspektEntuziastov13, Saratov 410049, Russia
| | - I.A. Blokhina
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - A.I. Dubrovski
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - A.V. Terskov
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - A.P. Khorovodov
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - V.B. Ageev
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - D.A. Elovenko
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - A.S. Evsukova
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - V.V. Adushkina
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - V.V. Telnova
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - D.E. Postnov
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia
| | - T.U. Penzel
- Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia,Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - J.G. Kurths
- Physics Department, Humboldt University, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany,Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya str., 83, Saratov, 410012, Russia,Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Telegrafenberg A31, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
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14
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Kruyer A. Astrocyte Heterogeneity in Regulation of Synaptic Activity. Cells 2022; 11:cells11193135. [PMID: 36231097 PMCID: PMC9562199 DOI: 10.3390/cells11193135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Our awareness of the number of synapse regulatory functions performed by astroglia is rapidly expanding, raising interesting questions regarding astrocyte heterogeneity and specialization across brain regions. Whether all astrocytes are poised to signal in a multitude of ways, or are instead tuned to surrounding synapses and how astroglial signaling is altered in psychiatric and cognitive disorders are fundamental questions for the field. In recent years, molecular and morphological characterization of astroglial types has broadened our ability to design studies to better analyze and manipulate specific functions of astroglia. Recent data emerging from these studies will be discussed in depth in this review. I also highlight remaining questions emerging from new techniques recently applied toward understanding the roles of astrocytes in synapse regulation in the adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kruyer
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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15
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Higinio-Rodríguez F, Rivera-Villaseñor A, Calero-Vargas I, López-Hidalgo M. From nociception to pain perception, possible implications of astrocytes. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:972827. [PMID: 36159392 PMCID: PMC9492445 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.972827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are determinants for the functioning of the CNS. They respond to neuronal activity with calcium increases and can in turn modulate synaptic transmission, brain plasticity as well as cognitive processes. Astrocytes display sensory-evoked calcium responses in different brain structures related to the discriminative system of most sensory modalities. In particular, noxious stimulation evoked calcium responses in astrocytes in the spinal cord, the hippocampus, and the somatosensory cortex. However, it is not clear if astrocytes are involved in pain. Pain is a private, personal, and complex experience that warns us about potential tissue damage. It is a perception that is not linearly associated with the amount of tissue damage or nociception; instead, it is constructed with sensory, cognitive, and affective components and depends on our previous experiences. However, it is not fully understood how pain is created from nociception. In this perspective article, we provide an overview of the mechanisms and neuronal networks that underlie the perception of pain. Then we proposed that coherent activity of astrocytes in the spinal cord and pain-related brain areas could be important in binding sensory, affective, and cognitive information on a slower time scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frida Higinio-Rodríguez
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Angélica Rivera-Villaseñor
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Isnarhazni Calero-Vargas
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Mónica López-Hidalgo
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Mónica López-Hidalgo,
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16
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Blum Moyse L, Berry H. Modelling the modulation of cortical Up-Down state switching by astrocytes. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010296. [PMID: 35862433 PMCID: PMC9345492 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Up-Down synchronization in neuronal networks refers to spontaneous switches between periods of high collective firing activity (Up state) and periods of silence (Down state). Recent experimental reports have shown that astrocytes can control the emergence of such Up-Down regimes in neural networks, although the molecular or cellular mechanisms that are involved are still uncertain. Here we propose neural network models made of three populations of cells: excitatory neurons, inhibitory neurons and astrocytes, interconnected by synaptic and gliotransmission events, to explore how astrocytes can control this phenomenon. The presence of astrocytes in the models is indeed observed to promote the emergence of Up-Down regimes with realistic characteristics. Our models show that the difference of signalling timescales between astrocytes and neurons (seconds versus milliseconds) can induce a regime where the frequency of gliotransmission events released by the astrocytes does not synchronize with the Up and Down phases of the neurons, but remains essentially stable. However, these gliotransmission events are found to change the localization of the bifurcations in the parameter space so that with the addition of astrocytes, the network enters a bistability region of the dynamics that corresponds to Up-Down synchronization. Taken together, our work provides a theoretical framework to test scenarios and hypotheses on the modulation of Up-Down dynamics by gliotransmission from astrocytes. Neural networks in many brain regions can display synchronized activities. During the so-called “Up-Down” synchronization regimes for instance, the whole local population of neurons switches in a spontaneous and synchronized fashion between phases of high activity (Up states) and phases of low activity (Down states). The mechanisms responsible for this behaviour are still not well understood, but recent experimental reports have suggested that another type of brain cells, the astrocytes, at least partly control these oscillations. Astrocytes are increasingly believed to play a role in the propagation of signals between neurons, via their connections to neuronal synapses, but how this mechanism could control Up-Down regimes is not understood. To address this issue we present here simple mathematical models of neuronal networks that incorporate astrocytes in addition to neurons according to various levels of description. Using bifurcation analysis and numerical simulations we explore how astrocytes control Up-Down synchronization of the neuronal networks. In particular, astrocytes in the model are found to change the localization of the bifurcation points in the parameter space, so that the neurons enter the region of Up-Down regime when astrocytes are present. We also give some theoretical predictions that can be tested experimentally to test the validity of our models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Blum Moyse
- Inria, Villeurbanne, France
- LIRIS UMR5205, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Hugues Berry
- Inria, Villeurbanne, France
- LIRIS UMR5205, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
- * E-mail:
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17
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Oliveira JF, Araque A. Astrocyte regulation of neural circuit activity and network states. Glia 2022; 70:1455-1466. [PMID: 35460131 PMCID: PMC9232995 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are known to influence neuronal activity through different mechanisms, including the homeostatic control of extracellular levels of ions and neurotransmitters and the exchange of signaling molecules that regulate synaptic formation, structure, and function. While a great effort done in the past has defined many molecular mechanisms and cellular processes involved in astrocyte-neuron interactions at the cellular level, the consequences of these interactions at the network level in vivo have only relatively recently been identified. This review describes and discusses recent findings on the regulatory effects of astrocytes on the activity of neuronal networks in vivo. Accumulating but still limited, evidence indicates that astrocytes regulate neuronal network rhythmic activity and synchronization as well as brain states. These studies demonstrate a critical contribution of astrocytes to brain activity and are paving the way for a more thorough understanding of the cellular bases of brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Filipe Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal.,IPCA-EST-2Ai, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Applied Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Campus of IPCA, Barcelos, Portugal
| | - Alfonso Araque
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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18
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Turk AZ, Bishop M, Adeck A, SheikhBahaei S. Astrocytic modulation of central pattern generating motor circuits. Glia 2022; 70:1506-1519. [PMID: 35212422 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Central pattern generators (CPGs) generate the rhythmic and coordinated neural features necessary for the proper conduction of complex behaviors. In particular, CPGs are crucial for complex motor behaviors such as locomotion, mastication, respiration, and vocal production. While the importance of these networks in modulating behavior is evident, the mechanisms driving these CPGs are still not fully understood. On the other hand, accumulating evidence suggests that astrocytes have a significant role in regulating the function of some of these CPGs. Here, we review the location, function, and role of astrocytes in locomotion, respiration, and mastication CPGs and propose that, similarly, astrocytes may also play a significant role in the vocalization CPG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariana Z Turk
- Neuron-Glia Signaling and Circuits Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mitchell Bishop
- Neuron-Glia Signaling and Circuits Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Afuh Adeck
- Neuron-Glia Signaling and Circuits Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Shahriar SheikhBahaei
- Neuron-Glia Signaling and Circuits Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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19
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Electrophysiological- and Neuropharmacological-Based Benchmarking of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived and Primary Rodent Neurons. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 18:259-277. [PMID: 34687385 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-021-10263-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons are of interest for studying neurological disease mechanisms, developing potential therapies and deepening our understanding of the human nervous system. However, compared to an extensive history of practice with primary rodent neuron cultures, human iPSC-neurons still require more robust characterization of expression of neuronal receptors and ion channels and functional and predictive pharmacological responses. In this study, we differentiated human amniotic fluid-derived iPSCs into a mixed population of neurons (AF-iNs). Functional assessments were performed by evaluating electrophysiological (patch-clamp) properties and the effect of a panel of neuropharmacological agents on spontaneous activity (multi-electrode arrays; MEAs). These electrophysiological data were benchmarked relative to commercially sourced human iPSC-derived neurons (CNS.4U from Ncardia), primary human neurons (ScienCell™) and primary rodent cortical/hippocampal neurons. Patch-clamp whole-cell recordings showed that mature AF-iNs generated repetitive firing of action potentials in response to depolarizations, similar to that of primary rodent cortical/hippocampal neurons, with nearly half of the neurons displaying spontaneous post-synaptic currents. Immunochemical and MEA-based analyses indicated that AF-iNs were composed of functional glutamatergic excitatory and inhibitory GABAergic neurons. Principal component analysis of MEA data indicated that human AF-iN and rat neurons exhibited distinct pharmacological and electrophysiological properties. Collectively, this study establishes a necessary prerequisite for AF-iNs as a human neuron culture model suitable for pharmacological studies.
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20
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Van Horn MR, Benfey NJ, Shikany C, Severs LJ, Deemyad T. Neuron-astrocyte networking: astrocytes orchestrate and respond to changes in neuronal network activity across brain states and behaviors. J Neurophysiol 2021; 126:627-636. [PMID: 34259027 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00062.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are known to play many important roles in brain function. However, research underscoring the extent to which astrocytes modulate neuronal activity is still underway. Here we review the latest evidence regarding the contribution of astrocytes to neuronal oscillations across the brain, with a specific focus on how astrocytes respond to changes in brain state (e.g., sleep, arousal, stress). We then discuss the general mechanisms by which astrocytes signal to neurons to modulate neuronal activity, ultimately driving changes in behavior, followed by a discussion of how astrocytes contribute to respiratory rhythms in the medulla. Finally, we contemplate the possibility that brain stem astrocytes could modulate brainwide oscillations by communicating the status of oxygenation to higher cortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion R Van Horn
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nicholas J Benfey
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Colleen Shikany
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Liza J Severs
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Tara Deemyad
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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21
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Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya O, Mamedova A, Vinnik V, Klimova M, Saranceva E, Ageev V, Yu T, Zhu D, Penzel T, Kurths J. Brain Mechanisms of COVID-19-Sleep Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6917. [PMID: 34203143 PMCID: PMC8268116 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
2020 and 2021 have been unprecedented years due to the rapid spread of the modified severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus around the world. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes atypical infiltrated pneumonia with many neurological symptoms, and major sleep changes. The exposure of people to stress, such as social confinement and changes in daily routines, is accompanied by various sleep disturbances, known as 'coronasomnia' phenomenon. Sleep disorders induce neuroinflammation, which promotes the blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and entry of antigens and inflammatory factors into the brain. Here, we review findings and trends in sleep research in 2020-2021, demonstrating how COVID-19 and sleep disorders can induce BBB leakage via neuroinflammation, which might contribute to the 'coronasomnia' phenomenon. The new studies suggest that the control of sleep hygiene and quality should be incorporated into the rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients. We also discuss perspective strategies for the prevention of COVID-19-related BBB disorders. We demonstrate that sleep might be a novel biomarker of BBB leakage, and the analysis of sleep EEG patterns can be a breakthrough non-invasive technology for diagnosis of the COVID-19-caused BBB disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oxana Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya
- Institute of Physics, Humboldt University, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany;
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Atrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (A.M.); (V.V.); (M.K.); (E.S.); (V.A.)
| | - Aysel Mamedova
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Atrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (A.M.); (V.V.); (M.K.); (E.S.); (V.A.)
| | - Valeria Vinnik
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Atrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (A.M.); (V.V.); (M.K.); (E.S.); (V.A.)
| | - Maria Klimova
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Atrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (A.M.); (V.V.); (M.K.); (E.S.); (V.A.)
| | - Elena Saranceva
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Atrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (A.M.); (V.V.); (M.K.); (E.S.); (V.A.)
| | - Vasily Ageev
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Atrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (A.M.); (V.V.); (M.K.); (E.S.); (V.A.)
| | - Tingting Yu
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (T.Y.); (D.Z.)
- MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Dan Zhu
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (T.Y.); (D.Z.)
- MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Thomas Penzel
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Atrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (A.M.); (V.V.); (M.K.); (E.S.); (V.A.)
- Sleep Medicine Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Kurths
- Institute of Physics, Humboldt University, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany;
- Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Atrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (A.M.); (V.V.); (M.K.); (E.S.); (V.A.)
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Telegrafenberg A31, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
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22
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Tan LL, Oswald MJ, Kuner R. Neurobiology of brain oscillations in acute and chronic pain. Trends Neurosci 2021; 44:629-642. [PMID: 34176645 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Pain is a complex perceptual phenomenon. Coordinated activity among local and distant brain networks is a central element of the neural underpinnings of pain. Brain oscillatory rhythms across diverse frequency ranges provide a functional substrate for coordinating activity across local neuronal ensembles and anatomically distant brain areas in pain networks. This review addresses parallels between insights from human and rodent analyses of oscillatory rhythms in acute and chronic pain and discusses recent rodent-based studies that have shed light on mechanistic underpinnings of brain oscillatory dynamics in pain-related behaviors. We highlight the potential for therapeutic modulation of oscillatory rhythms, and identify outstanding questions and challenges to be addressed in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linette Liqi Tan
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Manfred Josef Oswald
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rohini Kuner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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23
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Contreras SA, Schleimer JH, Gulledge AT, Schreiber S. Activity-mediated accumulation of potassium induces a switch in firing pattern and neuronal excitability type. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008510. [PMID: 34043638 PMCID: PMC8205125 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
During normal neuronal activity, ionic concentration gradients across a neuron’s membrane are often assumed to be stable. Prolonged spiking activity, however, can reduce transmembrane gradients and affect voltage dynamics. Based on mathematical modeling, we investigated the impact of neuronal activity on ionic concentrations and, consequently, the dynamics of action potential generation. We find that intense spiking activity on the order of a second suffices to induce changes in ionic reversal potentials and to consistently induce a switch from a regular to an intermittent firing mode. This transition is caused by a qualitative alteration in the system’s voltage dynamics, mathematically corresponding to a co-dimension-two bifurcation from a saddle-node on invariant cycle (SNIC) to a homoclinic orbit bifurcation (HOM). Our electrophysiological recordings in mouse cortical pyramidal neurons confirm the changes in action potential dynamics predicted by the models: (i) activity-dependent increases in intracellular sodium concentration directly reduce action potential amplitudes, an effect typically attributed solely to sodium channel inactivation; (ii) extracellular potassium accumulation switches action potential generation from tonic firing to intermittently interrupted output. Thus, individual neurons may respond very differently to the same input stimuli, depending on their recent patterns of activity and/or the current brain-state. Ionic concentrations in the brain are not constant. We show that during intense neuronal activity, they can change on the order of seconds and even switch neuronal spiking patterns under identical stimulation from a regular firing mode to an intermittently interrupted one. Triggered by an accumulation of extracellular potassium, such a transition is caused by a specific, qualitative change in of the neuronal voltage dynamics—a so-called bifurcation—which affects crucial features of action-potential generation and bears consequences for how information is encoded and how neurons behave together in the network. Also, changes in intracellular sodium can induce measurable effects, like a reduction of spike amplitude that occurs independently of the fast amplitude effects attributed to sodium channel inactivation. Taken together, our results demonstrate that a neuron can respond very differently to the same stimulus, depending on its previous activity or the current brain state. This finding may be particularly relevant when other regulatory mechanisms of ionic homeostasis are challenged, for example, during pathological states of glial impairment or oxygen deprivation. Finally, categorization of cortical neurons as intrinsically bursting or regular spiking may be biased by the ionic concentrations at the time of the observation, highlighting the non-static nature of neuronal dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Andrea Contreras
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan-Hendrik Schleimer
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Allan T. Gulledge
- Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Susanne Schreiber
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
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24
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Modeling of sustained spontaneous network oscillations of a sexually dimorphic brainstem nucleus: the role of potassium equilibrium potential. J Comput Neurosci 2021; 49:419-439. [PMID: 34032982 DOI: 10.1007/s10827-021-00789-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsic oscillators in the central nervous system play a preeminent role in the neural control of rhythmic behaviors, yet little is known about how the ionic milieu regulates their output patterns. A powerful system to address this question is the pacemaker nucleus of the weakly electric fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus. A neural network comprised of an average of 87 pacemaker cells and 20 relay cells produces tonic oscillations, with higher frequencies in males compared to females. Previous empirical studies have suggested that this sexual dimorphism develops and is maintained through modulation of buffering of extracellular K+ by a massive meshwork of astrocytes enveloping the pacemaker and relay cells. Here, we constructed a model of this neural network that can generate sustained spontaneous oscillations. Sensitivity analysis revealed the potassium equilibrium potential, EK (as a proxy of extracellular K+ concentration), and corresponding somatic channel conductances as critical determinants of oscillation frequency and amplitude. In models of both the pacemaker nucleus network and isolated pacemaker and relay cells, the frequency increased almost linearly with EK, whereas the amplitude decreased nonlinearly with increasing EK. Our simulations predict that this frequency increase is largely caused by a shift in the minimum K+ conductance over one oscillation period. This minimum is close to zero at more negative EK, converging to the corresponding maximum at less negative EK. This brings the resting membrane potential closer to the threshold potential at which voltage-gated Na+ channels become active, increasing the excitability, and thus the frequency, of pacemaker and relay cells.
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25
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Bellot-Saez A, Stevenson R, Kékesi O, Samokhina E, Ben-Abu Y, Morley JW, Buskila Y. Neuromodulation of Astrocytic K + Clearance. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052520. [PMID: 33802343 PMCID: PMC7959145 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Potassium homeostasis is fundamental for brain function. Therefore, effective removal of excessive K+ from the synaptic cleft during neuronal activity is paramount. Astrocytes play a key role in K+ clearance from the extracellular milieu using various mechanisms, including uptake via Kir channels and the Na+-K+ ATPase, and spatial buffering through the astrocytic gap-junction coupled network. Recently we showed that alterations in the concentrations of extracellular potassium ([K+]o) or impairments of the astrocytic clearance mechanism affect the resonance and oscillatory behavior of both the individual and networks of neurons. These results indicate that astrocytes have the potential to modulate neuronal network activity, however, the cellular effectors that may affect the astrocytic K+ clearance process are still unknown. In this study, we have investigated the impact of neuromodulators, which are known to mediate changes in network oscillatory behavior, on the astrocytic clearance process. Our results suggest that while some neuromodulators (5-HT; NA) might affect astrocytic spatial buffering via gap-junctions, others (DA; Histamine) primarily affect the uptake mechanism via Kir channels. These results suggest that neuromodulators can affect network oscillatory activity through parallel activation of both neurons and astrocytes, establishing a synergistic mechanism to maximize the synchronous network activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Bellot-Saez
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia; (A.B.-S.); (R.S.); (O.K.); (E.S.); (J.W.M.)
| | - Rebecca Stevenson
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia; (A.B.-S.); (R.S.); (O.K.); (E.S.); (J.W.M.)
| | - Orsolya Kékesi
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia; (A.B.-S.); (R.S.); (O.K.); (E.S.); (J.W.M.)
| | - Evgeniia Samokhina
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia; (A.B.-S.); (R.S.); (O.K.); (E.S.); (J.W.M.)
| | - Yuval Ben-Abu
- Projects and Physics Section, Sapir Academic College, D.N. Hof Ashkelon, Sderot 79165, Israel;
| | - John W. Morley
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia; (A.B.-S.); (R.S.); (O.K.); (E.S.); (J.W.M.)
| | - Yossi Buskila
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia; (A.B.-S.); (R.S.); (O.K.); (E.S.); (J.W.M.)
- International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems, The MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-246203853
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26
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Perez-Catalan NA, Doe CQ, Ackerman SD. The role of astrocyte-mediated plasticity in neural circuit development and function. Neural Dev 2021; 16:1. [PMID: 33413602 PMCID: PMC7789420 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-020-00151-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal networks are capable of undergoing rapid structural and functional changes called plasticity, which are essential for shaping circuit function during nervous system development. These changes range from short-term modifications on the order of milliseconds, to long-term rearrangement of neural architecture that could last for the lifetime of the organism. Neural plasticity is most prominent during development, yet also plays a critical role during memory formation, behavior, and disease. Therefore, it is essential to define and characterize the mechanisms underlying the onset, duration, and form of plasticity. Astrocytes, the most numerous glial cell type in the human nervous system, are integral elements of synapses and are components of a glial network that can coordinate neural activity at a circuit-wide level. Moreover, their arrival to the CNS during late embryogenesis correlates to the onset of sensory-evoked activity, making them an interesting target for circuit plasticity studies. Technological advancements in the last decade have uncovered astrocytes as prominent regulators of circuit assembly and function. Here, we provide a brief historical perspective on our understanding of astrocytes in the nervous system, and review the latest advances on the role of astroglia in regulating circuit plasticity and function during nervous system development and homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson A Perez-Catalan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
- Kennedy Center, Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Chris Q Doe
- Institute of Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Sarah D Ackerman
- Institute of Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA.
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27
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Pacholko AG, Wotton CA, Bekar LK. Astrocytes-The Ultimate Effectors of Long-Range Neuromodulatory Networks? Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:581075. [PMID: 33192327 PMCID: PMC7554522 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.581075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
It was long thought that astrocytes, given their lack of electrical signaling, were not involved in communication with neurons. However, we now know that one astrocyte on average maintains and regulates the extracellular neurotransmitter and potassium levels of more than 140,000 synapses, both excitatory and inhibitory, within their individual domains, and form a syncytium that can propagate calcium waves to affect distant cells via release of “gliotransmitters” such as glutamate, ATP, or adenosine. Neuromodulators can affect signal-to-noise and frequency transmission within cortical circuits by effects on inhibition, allowing for the filtering of relevant vs. irrelevant stimuli. Moreover, synchronized “resting” and desynchronized “activated” brain states are gated by short bursts of high-frequency neuromodulatory activity, highlighting the need for neuromodulation that is robust, rapid, and far-reaching. As many neuromodulators are released in a volume manner where degradation/uptake and the confines of the complex CNS limit diffusion distance, we ask the question—are astrocytes responsible for rapidly extending neuromodulator actions to every synapse? Neuromodulators are known to influence transitions between brain states, leading to control over plasticity, responses to salient stimuli, wakefulness, and sleep. These rapid and wide-spread state transitions demand that neuromodulators can simultaneously influence large and diverse regions in a manner that should be impossible given the limitations of simple diffusion. Intriguingly, astrocytes are ideally situated to amplify/extend neuromodulator effects over large populations of synapses given that each astrocyte can: (1) ensheath a large number of synapses; (2) release gliotransmitters (glutamate/ATP/adenosine) known to affect inhibition; (3) regulate extracellular potassium that can affect excitability and excitation/inhibition balance; and (4) express receptors for all neuromodulators. In this review article, we explore the hypothesis that astrocytes extend and amplify neuromodulatory influences on neuronal networks via alterations in calcium dynamics, the release of gliotransmitters, and potassium homeostasis. Given that neuromodulatory networks are at the core of our sleep-wake cycle and behavioral states, and determine how we interact with our environment, this review article highlights the importance of basic astrocyte function in homeostasis, general cognition, and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony G Pacholko
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Caitlin A Wotton
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Lane K Bekar
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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28
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Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya O, Postnov D, Penzel T, Kurths J. Sleep as a Novel Biomarker and a Promising Therapeutic Target for Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: A Review Focusing on Alzheimer's Disease and the Blood-Brain Barrier. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176293. [PMID: 32878058 PMCID: PMC7504101 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a leading cause of cognitive decline in elderly people and development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Blood–brain barrier (BBB) leakage is a key pathophysiological mechanism of amyloidal CSVD. Sleep plays a crucial role in keeping health of the central nervous system and in resistance to CSVD. The deficit of sleep contributes to accumulation of metabolites and toxins such as beta-amyloid in the brain and can lead to BBB disruption. Currently, sleep is considered as an important informative platform for diagnosis and therapy of AD. However, there are no effective methods for extracting of diagnostic information from sleep characteristics. In this review, we show strong evidence that slow wave activity (SWA) (0–0.5 Hz) during deep sleep reflects glymphatic pathology, the BBB leakage and memory deficit in AD. We also discuss that diagnostic and therapeutic targeting of SWA in AD might lead to be a novel era in effective therapy of AD. Moreover, we demonstrate that SWA can be pioneering non-invasive and bed–side technology for express diagnosis of the BBB permeability. Finally, we review the novel data about the methods of detection and enhancement of SWA that can be biomarker and a promising therapy of amyloidal CSVD and CSVD associated with the BBB disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oxana Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya
- Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (D.P.); (T.P.); (J.K.)
- Physics Department, Humboldt University, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-927-115-5157
| | - Dmitry Postnov
- Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (D.P.); (T.P.); (J.K.)
| | - Thomas Penzel
- Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (D.P.); (T.P.); (J.K.)
- Advanced Sleep Research GmbH, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Sleep Medicine Center, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Kurths
- Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya Str. 83, 410012 Saratov, Russia; (D.P.); (T.P.); (J.K.)
- Physics Department, Humboldt University, Newtonstrasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Telegrafenberg A31, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
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29
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Stevenson R, Samokhina E, Rossetti I, Morley JW, Buskila Y. Neuromodulation of Glial Function During Neurodegeneration. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:278. [PMID: 32973460 PMCID: PMC7473408 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glia, a non-excitable cell type once considered merely as the connective tissue between neurons, is nowadays acknowledged for its essential contribution to multiple physiological processes including learning, memory formation, excitability, synaptic plasticity, ion homeostasis, and energy metabolism. Moreover, as glia are key players in the brain immune system and provide structural and nutritional support for neurons, they are intimately involved in multiple neurological disorders. Recent advances have demonstrated that glial cells, specifically microglia and astroglia, are involved in several neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Epilepsy, Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). While there is compelling evidence for glial modulation of synaptic formation and regulation that affect neuronal signal processing and activity, in this manuscript we will review recent findings on neuronal activity that affect glial function, specifically during neurodegenerative disorders. We will discuss the nature of each glial malfunction, its specificity to each disorder, overall contribution to the disease progression and assess its potential as a future therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Stevenson
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Evgeniia Samokhina
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Ilaria Rossetti
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - John W. Morley
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Yossi Buskila
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
- International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems, The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Penrith, NSW, Australia
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30
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Epileptiform Neuronal Discharges Impair Astrocyte Syncytial Isopotentiality in Acute Hippocampal Slices. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10040208. [PMID: 32252295 PMCID: PMC7226063 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10040208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocyte syncytial isopotentiality is a physiological mechanism resulting from a strong electrical coupling among astrocytes. We have previously shown that syncytial isopotentiality exists as a system-wide feature that coordinates astrocytes into a system for high efficient regulation of brain homeostasis. Neuronal activity is known to regulate gap junction coupling through alteration of extracellular ions and neurotransmitters. However, the extent to which epileptic neuronal activity impairs the syncytial isopotentiality is unknown. Here, the neuronal epileptiform bursts were induced in acute hippocampal slices by removal of Mg2+ (Mg2+ free) from bath solution and inhibition of γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptors by 100 µM picrotoxin (PTX). The change in syncytial coupling was monitored by using a K+ free-Na+-containing electrode solution ([Na+]p) in the electrophysiological recording where the substitution of intracellular K+ by Na+ ions dissipates the physiological membrane potential (VM) to ~0 mV in the recorded astrocyte. However, in a syncytial coupled astrocyte, the [Na+]p induced VM loss can be compensated by the coupled astrocytes to a quasi-physiological membrane potential of ~73 mV. After short-term exposure to this experimental epileptic condition, a significant closure of syncytial coupling was indicated by a shift of the quasi-physiological membrane potential to −60 mV, corresponding to a 90% reduction of syncytial coupling strength. Consequently, the closure of syncytial coupling significantly decreased the ability of the syncytium for spatial redistribution of K+ ions. Altogether, our results show that epileptiform neuronal discharges weaken the strength of syncytial coupling and that in turn impairs the capacity of a syncytium for spatial redistribution of K+ ions.
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31
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Beckner ME. A roadmap for potassium buffering/dispersion via the glial network of the CNS. Neurochem Int 2020; 136:104727. [PMID: 32194142 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Glia use multiple mechanisms to mediate potassium fluxes that support neuronal function. In addition to changes in potassium levels within synapses, these ions are dynamically dispersed through the interstitial parenchyma, perivascular spaces, leptomeninges, cerebrospinal fluid, choroid plexus, blood, vitreous, and endolymph. Neural circuits drive diversity in the glia that buffer potassium and this is reciprocal. Glia mediate buffering of potassium locally at glial-neuronal interfaces and via widespread networked connections. Control of potassium levels in the central nervous system is mediated by mechanisms operating at various loci with complexity that is difficult to model. However, major components of networked glial buffering are known. The role that potassium buffering plays in homeostasis of the CNS underlies some pathologic phenomena. An overview of potassium fluxes in the CNS is relevant for understanding consequences of pathogenic sequence variants in genes that encode potassium buffering proteins. Potassium flows in the CNS are described as follows: K1, the coordinated potassium fluxes within the astrocytic cradle around the synapse; K2, temporary storage of potassium within astrocytic processes in proposed microdomains; K3, potassium fluxes between oligodendrocytes and astrocytes; K4, potassium fluxes between astrocytes; K5, astrocytic potassium flux mediation of neurovasular coupling; K6, CSF delivery of potassium to perivascular spaces with dispersion to interstitial fluid between astrocytic endfeet; K7, astrocytic delivery of potassium to CSF and K8, choroid plexus (modified glia) regulation of potassium at the blood-CSF barrier. Components, mainly potassium channels, transporters, connexins and modulators, and the pathogenic sequence variants of their genes with the associated diseases are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie E Beckner
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.
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32
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Zupanc GKH. Development of a sexual dimorphism in a central pattern generator driving a rhythmic behavior: The role of glia-mediated potassium buffering in the pacemaker nucleus of the weakly electric fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus. Dev Neurobiol 2020; 80:6-15. [PMID: 32090501 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Central pattern generators play a critical role in the neural control of rhythmic behaviors. One of their characteristic features is the ability to modulate the oscillatory output. An important yet little-studied type of modulation involves the generation of oscillations that are sexually dimorphic in frequency. In the weakly electric fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus, the pacemaker nucleus serves as a central pattern generator that drives the electric organ discharge of the fish in a one-to-one fashion. Males discharge at higher frequencies than females-a sexual dimorphism that develops under the influence of steroid hormones. The two principal neurons that constitute the oscillatory network of the pacemaker nucleus are the pacemaker and relay cells. Whereas the number and size of the pacemaker and relay cells are sexually monomorphic, pronounced sex-dependent differences exist in the morphology, and subcellular properties of astrocytes, which form a syncytium closely associated with these neurons. In females, compared to males, the astrocytic syncytium covers a larger area surrounding the pacemaker and relay cells and exhibits higher levels of expression of connexin-43 expression. The latter indicates a strong gap-junction coupling of the individual cells within the syncytium. It is hypothesized that these sex-specific differences result in an increased capacity for buffering of extracellular potassium ions, thereby lowering the potassium equilibrium potential, which, in turn, leads to a decrease in the oscillation frequency. This hypothesis has received strong support from simulations based on computational models of individual neurons and the whole neural network of the pacemaker nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günther K H Zupanc
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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33
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Saracino E, Maiolo L, Polese D, Semprini M, Borrachero-Conejo AI, Gasparetto J, Murtagh S, Sola M, Tomasi L, Valle F, Pazzini L, Formaggio F, Chiappalone M, Hussain S, Caprini M, Muccini M, Ambrosio L, Fortunato G, Zamboni R, Convertino A, Benfenati V. A Glial-Silicon Nanowire Electrode Junction Enabling Differentiation and Noninvasive Recording of Slow Oscillations from Primary Astrocytes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 4:e1900264. [PMID: 32293156 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201900264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The correct human brain function is dependent on the activity of non-neuronal cells called astrocytes. The bioelectrical properties of astrocytes in vitro do not closely resemble those displayed in vivo and the former are incapable of generating action potential; thus, reliable approaches in vitro for noninvasive electrophysiological recording of astrocytes remain challenging for biomedical engineering. Here it is found that primary astrocytes grown on a device formed by a forest of randomly oriented gold coated-silicon nanowires, resembling the complex structural and functional phenotype expressed by astrocytes in vivo. The device enables noninvasive extracellular recording of the slow-frequency oscillations generated by differentiated astrocytes, while flat electrodes failed on recording signals from undifferentiated cells. Pathophysiological concentrations of extracellular potassium, occurring during epilepsy and spreading depression, modulate the power of slow oscillations generated by astrocytes. A reliable approach to study the role of astrocytes function in brain physiology and pathologies is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Saracino
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività, via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Maiolo
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Microelettronica e i Microsistemi, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere n.100, 00133, Roma, Italy
| | - Davide Polese
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Microelettronica e i Microsistemi, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere n.100, 00133, Roma, Italy
| | - M Semprini
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rehab Technologies IIT-INAIL Lab, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Ana Isabel Borrachero-Conejo
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati, via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Jacopo Gasparetto
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività, via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Murtagh
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività, via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Margherita Sola
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività, via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Tomasi
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività, via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Valle
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati, via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Pazzini
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Microelettronica e i Microsistemi, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere n.100, 00133, Roma, Italy
| | - Francesco Formaggio
- Università di Bologna, Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie FaBit, University of Bologna, via San Donato 19/2, 40127, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michela Chiappalone
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rehab Technologies IIT-INAIL Lab, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Saber Hussain
- US Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH, 45433, USA
| | - Marco Caprini
- Università di Bologna, Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie FaBit, University of Bologna, via San Donato 19/2, 40127, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Muccini
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati, via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luigi Ambrosio
- Istituto per i Polimeri Composti e i Biomateriali, Viale J.F. Kennedy 54, Mostra d'Oltremare, Pad 20, 80125, Napoli, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Fortunato
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Microelettronica e i Microsistemi, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere n.100, 00133, Roma, Italy
| | - Roberto Zamboni
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività, via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Annalisa Convertino
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Microelettronica e i Microsistemi, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere n.100, 00133, Roma, Italy
| | - Valentina Benfenati
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività, via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy
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Martinez-Banaclocha M. Astroglial Isopotentiality and Calcium-Associated Biomagnetic Field Effects on Cortical Neuronal Coupling. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020439. [PMID: 32069981 PMCID: PMC7073214 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic neurotransmission is necessary but does not sufficiently explain superior cognitive faculties. Growing evidence has shown that neuron-astroglial chemical crosstalk plays a critical role in the processing of information, computation, and memory. In addition to chemical and electrical communication among neurons and between neurons and astrocytes, other nonsynaptic mechanisms called ephaptic interactions can contribute to the neuronal synchronization from different brain regions involved in the processing of information. New research on brain astrocytes has clearly shown that the membrane potential of these cells remains very stable among neighboring and distant astrocytes due to the marked bioelectric coupling between them through gap junctions. This finding raises the possibility that the neocortical astroglial network exerts a guiding template modulating the excitability and synchronization of trillions of neurons by astroglial Ca2+-associated bioelectromagnetic interactions. We propose that bioelectric and biomagnetic fields of the astroglial network equalize extracellular local field potentials (LFPs) and associated local magnetic field potentials (LMFPs) in the cortical layers of the brain areas involved in the processing of information, contributing to the adequate and coherent integration of external and internal signals. This article reviews the current knowledge of ephaptic interactions in the cerebral cortex and proposes that the isopotentiality of cortical astrocytes is a prerequisite for the maintenance of the bioelectromagnetic crosstalk between neurons and astrocytes in the neocortex.
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35
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Ren T, Chen P, Gu L, Ogut MG, Demirci U. Soft Ring-Shaped Cellu-Robots with Simultaneous Locomotion in Batches. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e1905713. [PMID: 31773837 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201905713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Untethered mini-robots can move single cells or aggregates to build complex constructs in confined spaces and may enable various biomedical applications such as regenerative repair in medicine and biosensing in bioengineering. However, a significant challenge is the ability to control multiple microrobots simultaneously in the same space to operate toward a common goal in a distributed operation. A locomotion strategy that can simultaneously guide the formation and operation of multiple robots in response to a common acoustic stimulus is developed. The scaffold-free cellu-robots comprise only highly packed cells and eliminate the influence of supportive materials, making them less cumbersome during locomotion. The ring shape of the cellu-robot contributes to anisotropic cellular interactions which induce radial cellular orientation. Under a single stimulus, several cellu-robots form predetermined complex structures such as bracelet-like ring-chains which transform into a single new living entity through cell-cell interactions, migration or cellular extensions between cellu-robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanchen Ren
- Bio-Acoustic MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Laboratory, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Department of Radiology, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA
| | - Pu Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430050, China
| | - Longjun Gu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Mehmet Giray Ogut
- Bio-Acoustic MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Laboratory, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Department of Radiology, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA
| | - Utkan Demirci
- Bio-Acoustic MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Laboratory, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Department of Radiology, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA
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36
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Hyvärinen T, Hyysalo A, Kapucu FE, Aarnos L, Vinogradov A, Eglen SJ, Ylä-Outinen L, Narkilahti S. Functional characterization of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical networks differentiated on laminin-521 substrate: comparison to rat cortical cultures. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17125. [PMID: 31748598 PMCID: PMC6868015 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53647-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived neurons provide exciting opportunities for in vitro modeling of neurological diseases and for advancing drug development and neurotoxicological studies. However, generating electrophysiologically mature neuronal networks from hPSCs has been challenging. Here, we report the differentiation of functionally active hPSC-derived cortical networks on defined laminin-521 substrate. We apply microelectrode array (MEA) measurements to assess network events and compare the activity development of hPSC-derived networks to that of widely used rat embryonic cortical cultures. In both of these networks, activity developed through a similar sequence of stages and time frames; however, the hPSC-derived networks showed unique patterns of bursting activity. The hPSC-derived networks developed synchronous activity, which involved glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs, recapitulating the classical cortical activity also observed in rodent counterparts. Principal component analysis (PCA) based on spike rates, network synchronization and burst features revealed the segregation of hPSC-derived and rat network recordings into different clusters, reflecting the species-specific and maturation state differences between the two networks. Overall, hPSC-derived neural cultures produced with a defined protocol generate cortical type network activity, which validates their applicability as a human-specific model for pharmacological studies and modeling network dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Hyvärinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Anu Hyysalo
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Fikret Emre Kapucu
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Laura Aarnos
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Andrey Vinogradov
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Stephen J Eglen
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Ylä-Outinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Susanna Narkilahti
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
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37
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Buskila Y, Bellot-Saez A, Morley JW. Generating Brain Waves, the Power of Astrocytes. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1125. [PMID: 31680846 PMCID: PMC6813784 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Synchronization of neuronal activity in the brain underlies the emergence of neuronal oscillations termed “brain waves”, which serve various physiological functions and correlate with different behavioral states. It has been postulated that at least ten distinct mechanisms are involved in the formulation of these brain waves, including variations in the concentration of extracellular neurotransmitters and ions, as well as changes in cellular excitability. In this mini review we highlight the contribution of astrocytes, a subtype of glia, in the formation and modulation of brain waves mainly due to their close association with synapses that allows their bidirectional interaction with neurons, and their syncytium-like activity via gap junctions that facilitate communication to distal brain regions through Ca2+ waves. These capabilities allow astrocytes to regulate neuronal excitability via glutamate uptake, gliotransmission and tight control of the extracellular K+ levels via a process termed K+ clearance. Spatio-temporal synchrony of activity across neuronal and astrocytic networks, both locally and distributed across cortical regions, underpins brain states and thereby behavioral states, and it is becoming apparent that astrocytes play an important role in the development and maintenance of neural activity underlying these complex behavioral states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yossi Buskila
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.,International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems, The MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Alba Bellot-Saez
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.,International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems, The MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - John W Morley
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
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38
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Glia-neuron interactions underlie state transitions to generalized seizures. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3830. [PMID: 31444362 PMCID: PMC6707163 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11739-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain activity and connectivity alter drastically during epileptic seizures. The brain networks shift from a balanced resting state to a hyperactive and hypersynchronous state. It is, however, less clear which mechanisms underlie the state transitions. By studying neural and glial activity in zebrafish models of epileptic seizures, we observe striking differences between these networks. During the preictal period, neurons display a small increase in synchronous activity only locally, while the gap-junction-coupled glial network was highly active and strongly synchronized across large distances. The transition from a preictal state to a generalized seizure leads to an abrupt increase in neural activity and connectivity, which is accompanied by a strong alteration in glia-neuron interactions and a massive increase in extracellular glutamate. Optogenetic activation of glia excites nearby neurons through the action of glutamate and gap junctions, emphasizing a potential role for glia-glia and glia-neuron connections in the generation of epileptic seizures. During epileptic seizures, neural activity across the brain switches into a hyperactive and hypersynchronized state. Here, the authors report on the role of glia-glia and glia-neuron interactions in mediating the changes that result in the ictal state in a zebrafish model of epilepsy.
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39
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The differential impact of acute microglia activation on the excitability of cholinergic neurons in the mouse medial septum. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 224:2297-2309. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01905-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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40
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Buskila Y, Kékesi O, Bellot-Saez A, Seah W, Berg T, Trpceski M, Yerbury JJ, Ooi L. Dynamic interplay between H-current and M-current controls motoneuron hyperexcitability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:310. [PMID: 30952836 PMCID: PMC6450866 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1538-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a type of motor neuron disease (MND) in which humans lose motor functions due to progressive loss of motoneurons in the cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. In patients and in animal models of MND it has been observed that there is a change in the properties of motoneurons, termed neuronal hyperexcitability, which is an exaggerated response of the neurons to a stimulus. Previous studies suggested neuronal excitability is one of the leading causes for neuronal loss, however the factors that instigate excitability in neurons over the course of disease onset and progression are not well understood, as these studies have looked mainly at embryonic or early postnatal stages (pre-symptomatic). As hyperexcitability is not a static phenomenon, the aim of this study was to assess the overall excitability of upper motoneurons during disease progression, specifically focusing on their oscillatory behavior and capabilities to fire repetitively. Our results suggest that increases in the intrinsic excitability of motoneurons are a global phenomenon of aging, however the cellular mechanisms that underlie this hyperexcitability are distinct in SOD1G93A ALS mice compared with wild-type controls. The ionic mechanism driving increased excitability involves alterations of the expression levels of HCN and KCNQ channel genes leading to a complex dynamic of H-current and M-current activation. Moreover, we show a negative correlation between the disease onset and disease progression, which correlates with a decrease in the expression level of HCN and KCNQ channels. These findings provide a potential explanation for the increased vulnerability of motoneurons to ALS with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yossi Buskila
- Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience research group, The MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, 2560, Australia.
| | - Orsolya Kékesi
- Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience research group, The MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, 2560, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Alba Bellot-Saez
- Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience research group, The MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, 2560, Australia
| | - Winston Seah
- Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience research group, The MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, 2560, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Tracey Berg
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Michael Trpceski
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Justin J Yerbury
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Lezanne Ooi
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
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41
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Zupanc GKH, Amaro SM, Lehotzky D, Zupanc FB, Leung NY. Glia-mediated modulation of extracellular potassium concentration determines the sexually dimorphic output frequency of a model brainstem oscillator. J Theor Biol 2019; 471:117-124. [PMID: 30902592 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in behavior is widespread among animals, but the cellular mechanisms underlying neural control of this phenomenon are largely unknown. One behavior that has provided some important clues about how such sex differences might develop is the electric organ discharge of Apteronotus leptorhynchus. In this weakly electric fish, the mean discharge frequencies of males and females are 880 Hz and 740 Hz, respectively, with little overlap of the two frequency bands. The discharges are controlled, in a one-to-one fashion, by the neural oscillations of the pacemaker nucleus in the medulla oblongata. Experimental evidence has shown that the astrocytic syncytium associated with the neural network that generates these oscillations is significantly larger, and stronger coupled via gap junctions, in females than in males. In the present study, modeling of this network was performed to test the hypotheses that the sex-dependent differences in the structure and properties of the astrocytic syncytium mediate better buffering of extracellular potassium in females than in males, which in turn causes, via a lowering of the potassium equilibrium potential, a decrease in the oscillation frequency. Simulations of the neural activity of the pacemaker nucleus and its individual components demonstrated that under both spontaneous and induced conditions the oscillation frequency and the potassium equilibrium potential are strongly positively correlated. These simulations predict that sufficient separation of the electric organ discharge frequencies for establishment of the sexual dimorphism can be achieved by rather minor alterations in the concentration of the extracellular potassium concentration in the pacemaker nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günther K H Zupanc
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Stephanie M Amaro
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dávid Lehotzky
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Frederick B Zupanc
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nicholas Y Leung
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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42
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DiNuzzo M, Walls AB, Öz G, Seaquist ER, Waagepetersen HS, Bak LK, Nedergaard M, Schousboe A. State-Dependent Changes in Brain Glycogen Metabolism. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2019; 23:269-309. [PMID: 31667812 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-27480-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
A fundamental understanding of glycogen structure, concentration, polydispersity and turnover is critical to qualify the role of glycogen in the brain. These molecular and metabolic features are under the control of neuronal activity through the interdependent action of neuromodulatory tone, ionic homeostasis and availability of metabolic substrates, all variables that concur to define the state of the system. In this chapter, we briefly describe how glycogen responds to selected behavioral, nutritional, environmental, hormonal, developmental and pathological conditions. We argue that interpreting glycogen metabolism through the lens of brain state is an effective approach to establish the relevance of energetics in connecting molecular and cellular neurophysiology to behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro DiNuzzo
- Center for Basic and Translational Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Anne B Walls
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gülin Öz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Helle S Waagepetersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lasse K Bak
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maiken Nedergaard
- Center for Basic and Translational Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical School, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Arne Schousboe
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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