Background norepinephrine primes astrocytic calcium responses to subsequent norepinephrine stimuli in the cerebral cortex
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582 (Japan)
Norepinephrine (NE) levels in the cerebral cortex are regulated in two modes; the brain state is correlated with slow changes in background NE concentration, while salient stimuli induce transient NE spikes. Previous studies have revealed their diverse neuromodulatory actions; however, the modulatory role of NE on astrocytic activity has been poorly characterized thus far. In this study, we evaluated the modulatory action of background NE on astrocytic responses to subsequent stimuli, using two-photon calcium imaging of acute murine cortical brain slices. We find that subthreshold background NE significantly augments calcium responses to subsequent pulsed NE stimulation in astrocytes. This priming effect is independent of neuronal activity and is mediated by the activation of β-adrenoceptors and the downstream cAMP pathway. These results indicate that background NE primes astrocytes for subsequent calcium responses to NE stimulation and suggest a novel gliomodulatory role for brain state-dependent background NE in the cerebral cortex. - Highlights: • Background NE augments the responsiveness of astrocytes to subsequent NE stimulation. • The priming effect is independent of neuronal activity and mediated by βadrenoceptor. • Background subthreshold NE may play gliomodulatory roles in the cerebral cortex.
- OSTI ID:
- 22696848
- Journal Information:
- Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Journal Name: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 483; ISSN 0006-291X; ISSN BBRCA9
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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