Ca2+ Mobilization in Cultured Rat Cerebellar Cells: Astrocytes are Activated by t-ACPD

Using primary rat cerebellar cell cultures we observed that trans-1-amino-cyclopentyl-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (t-ACPD) was able to induce an increase in intracellular [Ca2+] in different cell types. This response was not abolished by external Ca2+ withdrawal, indicating that t-ACPD triggered the release of intracellularly stored Ca2+. In neurons the t-ACPD response was monophasic and inhibited by l-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (APB). In astrocytes, characterized by their immunoreactivity to antisera to glial fibrillary acidic protein and S-100 protein, the response was oscillatory and resistant to APB application. These results suggest the presence of glutamate metabotropic receptor subtypes in the mammalian brain.