Astrocytic GPCR-Induced Ca²⁺ Signaling Is Not Causally Related to Local Cerebral Blood Flow Changes

Activation of Gq-type G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) gives rise to large cytosolic Ca²⁺ elevations in astrocytes. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that astrocytic Ca²⁺ elevations are closely associated with diameter changes in the nearby blood vessels, which astrocytes enwrap with their endfeet. However, the causal relationship between astrocytic Ca²⁺ elevations and blood vessel diameter changes has been questioned, as mice with diminished astrocytic Ca²⁺ signaling show normal sensory hyperemia. We addressed this controversy by imaging cortical vasculature while optogenetically elevating astrocyte Ca²⁺ in a novel transgenic mouse line, expressing Opto-Gq-type GPCR Optoα1AR (Astro-Optoα1AR) in astrocytes. Blue light illumination on the surface of the somatosensory cortex induced Ca²⁺ elevations in cortical astrocytes and their endfeet in mice under anesthesia. Blood vessel diameter did not change significantly with Optoα1AR-induced Ca²⁺ elevations in astrocytes, while it was increased by forelimb stimulation. Next, we labeled blood plasma with red fluorescence using AAV8-P3-Alb-mScarlet in Astro-Optoα1AR mice. We were able to identify arterioles that display diameter changes in superficial areas of the somatosensory cortex through the thinned skull. Photo-stimulation of astrocytes in the cortical area did not result in noticeable changes in the arteriole diameters compared with their background strain C57BL/6. Together, compelling evidence for astrocytic Gq pathway-induced vasodiameter changes was not observed. Our results support the notion that short-term (<10 s) hyperemia is not mediated by GPCR-induced astrocytic Ca²⁺ signaling.