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Updated: May 15, 2026
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In Vivo Visualization of Spontaneous Activity in Neonatal Mouse Sensory Cortex at a Single-Neuron Resolution
Published on: November 21, 2023
Somatotopic astrocytic activity in the somatosensory cortex
Arko Ghosh1, Matthias T Wyss, Bruno Weber
1Institute of Neuroinformatics, ETH and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. arko@ini.phys.ethz.ch
Glia
|January 23, 2013
Summary
Astrocytes, like neurons, show topographically organized activity in the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Astrocyte Biology
- Somatosensory System
Background:
- Astrocytes are vital for neuronal function and activity monitoring.
- The somatosensory cortex exhibits topographical organization of neuronal activity.
- It remains unknown if astrocytic activity is similarly restricted to specific cortical areas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if astrocytic activity is topographically restricted within the sensorimotor cortex.
- To compare astrocytic calcium signaling with neuronal activity and cerebral blood flow.
- To explore the relationship between astrocytic activity and peripheral sensory input.
Main Methods:
- Wide-field optical imaging to measure astrocytic calcium.
- Electrical stimulation of forepaw and hindpaw in rats.
- Laser speckle imaging for cerebral blood flow measurement.
- Tetrodotoxin application to block neuronal input.
Main Results:
- Astrocytic calcium signals were largely restricted to the forelimb (FL) and hindlimb (HL) sensorimotor areas corresponding to stimulated paws.
- Astrocytic calcium signals exhibited slower kinetics and delays relative to cerebral blood flow.
- Signal intensity decreased with increased stimulation frequency, and neuronal blockade abolished astrocytic signals.
Conclusions:
- Astrocytic activity is topographically organized in the sensorimotor cortex, mirroring neuronal organization.
- Frequency-dependent activation and reciprocal neuroglial communication are evident.
- This study offers a new approach to investigate astrocyte roles in neurological health and disease.
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