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Investigation of Spatial Interaction Between Astrocytes and Neurons in Cleared Brains
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Mapping astrocyte activity domains by light sheet imaging and spatio-temporal correlation screening.
Cuong Pham1, Daniela Herrera Moro2, Christine Mouffle1
1Sorbonne Université, Institute of Biology Paris Seine, Neuroscience Paris Seine, CNRS UMR8246, INSERM U1130, UPMC UMCR18, Paris, 75005, France.
Neuroimage
|June 26, 2020
Summary
Researchers mapped calcium (Ca2+) activity domains in astrocytes using light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM). This advanced imaging revealed distinct astrocyte signaling across brain regions, advancing our understanding of neural circuit function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Microscopy
Background:
- Astrocytes, a key glial cell type, regulate neuronal development and function.
- Astrocytic calcium (Ca2+) signaling is crucial for neuron-astrocyte interactions.
- Quantitative imaging is vital for studying astrocytic signaling in neural circuits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply a novel imaging strategy for mapping astrocytic Ca2+ activity domains in living mammalian brain tissue.
- To compare the efficacy of light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) with other microscopy techniques for imaging astrocytes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized fast light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) for wide-field optical sectioning of astrocytes in acute mouse brain slices.
- Employed both chemical and genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators.
- Applied correlative screening-based time series analysis to map activity domains.
Main Results:
- LSFM demonstrated advantages over epifluorescence and two-photon microscopy for mapping astrocytic Ca2+ domains.
- Distinct kinetics of Ca2+ signals were observed between cortical and hypothalamic astrocytes under resting conditions.
- Heterogeneity in Ca2+ signaling was identified following adrenergic G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activation.
Conclusions:
- The developed LSFM approach effectively maps Ca2+ activity domains in astrocyte populations.
- Significant regional differences in astrocyte signaling kinetics exist within the mammalian brain.
- This method holds potential for investigating dynamic astrocytic signals and their role in neural circuits.
