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Analyzing the Size, Shape, and Directionality of Networks of Coupled Astrocytes
Published on: October 4, 2018
Active sulforhodamine 101 uptake into hippocampal astrocytes
Christian Schnell1, Yohannes Hagos, Swen Hülsmann
1Abt. Neurophysiologie und Zelluläre Biophysik, Zentrum Physiologie und Pathophysiologie, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany.
Plos One
|November 29, 2012
Summary
Sulforhodamine 101 (SR101) effectively labels astrocytes in the hippocampus but not the ventrolateral medulla. This suggests SR101 uptake in the hippocampus involves organic anion transport, not hemichannels.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Sulforhodamine 101 (SR101) is a common fluorescent dye used to identify astrocytes.
- Astrocyte labeling with SR101 can vary depending on brain region.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential labeling of astrocytes by SR101 in the ventrolateral medulla and hippocampus.
- To elucidate the mechanism of SR101 uptake in astrocytes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized transgenic mice expressing EGFP under the GFAP promoter for astrocyte identification.
- Examined SR101 labeling in acute brain slices from the ventrolateral medulla and hippocampus.
- Tested the effects of carbenoxolone, mefloquine, and organic anion transport substrates on SR101 uptake.
Main Results:
- SR101 efficiently and specifically labeled astrocytes in the hippocampus but not the ventrolateral medulla.
- Carbenoxolone reduced SR101 labeling in the hippocampus, but hemichannel blockers (mefloquine) did not.
- Substrates of organic anion transport polypeptides significantly reduced SR101 labeling in hippocampal astrocytes.
Conclusions:
- SR101 labeling efficiency varies between brain regions, with hippocampal astrocytes being readily labeled.
- SR101 uptake in hippocampal astrocytes appears to be mediated by active transport via organic anion transporters, not gap-junction hemichannels.
