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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Imaging Intracellular Ca2+ Signals in Striatal Astrocytes from Adult Mice Using Genetically-encoded Calcium Indicators

Imaging Intracellular Ca2+ Signals in Striatal Astrocytes from Adult Mice Using Genetically-encoded Calcium Indicators

Published on: November 19, 2014

Radial astrocyte synchronization modulates the visual system during behavioral-state transitions.

Alejandro Uribe-Arias¹, Rotem Rozenblat², Ehud Vinepinsky¹

¹Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005 Paris, France.

|October 20, 2023

Summary

Radial astrocytes (RAs) synchronize after zebrafish escape behaviors, modulated by the locus coeruleus (LC)-norepinephrine circuit. This neuro-glial interaction influences neuronal activity and supports freezing behavior during state transitions.

Keywords:

behavioral states functional connectivity glia locus coeruleus neuronal circuits optic tectum optogenetics two-photon calcium imaging visual system zebrafish

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Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Imaging Intracellular Ca2+ Signals in Striatal Astrocytes from Adult Mice Using Genetically-encoded Calcium Indicators

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Published on: November 19, 2014

Analyzing the Size, Shape, and Directionality of Networks of Coupled Astrocytes

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Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

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Published on: July 31, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Glial Biology
Zebrafish Model Systems

Background:

Astrocytes, a type of glial cell, are increasingly recognized for their role in brain computations beyond neuronal support.
The excitable nature of astrocytes suggests they may actively influence neural circuits and behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the functional role of radial astrocyte (RA) excitability in brain computations and motor behaviors.
To explore the mechanisms underlying RA activity and its impact on neuronal networks in zebrafish larvae.

Main Methods:

Two-photon Ca2+ imaging in zebrafish larvae expressing GCaMP in neurons and RAs.
Optogenetics, laser ablations, and a genetically encoded norepinephrine sensor to probe circuit mechanisms.
Analysis of neuronal activity, direction selectivity, and functional correlations.

Main Results:

RAs in the optic tectum exhibit synchronized Ca2+ transients immediately following escape behaviors.
These RA synchronous events are mediated by the locus coeruleus (LC)-norepinephrine circuit.
RA synchronization modulated neuronal direction selectivity and long-distance functional correlations without direct excitation/inhibition.

Conclusions:

LC-mediated neuro-glial interactions involving RAs play a critical role in modulating visual system processing.
This mechanism facilitates behavioral state transitions, specifically supporting freezing behavior after an alerted state.
Demonstrates a novel pathway for glial cells to influence neural computation and behavior.