Carbachol-induced calcium transients in cultured astrocytes isolated from the rat cochlear nucleus
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1
Department of Physiology, Medical and Health Science Centre, University of Debrecen, Hungary
Although the cholinergic modulation of the cochlear nucleus (CN) has been demonstrated in in a number of studies, little is known about the cellular aspects of this effect. Since the function of the astrocytes in neural information processing is considered more significant than previously thought, investigating the involvement of the glial cells in the cholinergic modulation is important. Our aim was to analyse carbachol-induced Ca2+ transients in primary astrocyte cultures using a calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye (Fluo-4). 1 mM carbachol caused an increase of the cytoplasmic calcium concentration in 29.3% of the investigated astrocytes (n = 611). The effect of carbachol could be blocked by atropine. The time course of the transients showed heterogeneity: 55.9% of the cells produced a plateau-type signal, while 44.1% of them produced only a rapid transient. When the extracellular Ca2+ concentration was reduced, the plateau phase of the Ca2+ transients was strongly reduced or diminished. The presence of M1 and M3 muscarinic receptors (MR) but not that of M5 type one was shown at both mRNA and protein levels, using Q-PCR and immunocytochemistry, respectively. The significance of the M1 and M3 receptors in the genesis of the carbachol-induced Ca2+ transients was shown when M1 and M3 antagonists (pirenzepine and 4-DAMP, respectively) were employed, and both blockers reduced the amplitudes of the carbachol-induced Ca2+ transients in a dose dependent manner. Our findings indicate that astrocytes located in the rat CN may participate in the cholinergic modulation occurring in the CN neurones.
Supported by OTKA (K-72812)
Conference:
12th Meeting of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society, Budapest, Hungary, 22 Jan - 24 Jan, 2009.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Developmental neurobiology and subcortical functions
Citation:
Pap
P,
Rusznak
Z and
Szűcs
G
(2009). Carbachol-induced calcium transients in cultured astrocytes isolated from the rat cochlear nucleus.
Front. Syst. Neurosci.
Conference Abstract:
12th Meeting of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society.
doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.01.2009.04.249
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Received:
13 Mar 2009;
Published Online:
13 Mar 2009.
*
Correspondence:
Géza Szűcs, Department of Physiology, Medical and Health Science Centre, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary, szg@phys.dote.hu