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Imaging Intracellular Ca2+ Signals in Striatal Astrocytes from Adult Mice Using Genetically-encoded Calcium Indicators
Published on: November 19, 2014
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Inhibitory maturation and ocular dominance plasticity in mouse visual cortex require astrocyte CB1 receptors
Rogier Min1,2,3, Yi Qin1, Sven Kerst1,2,3
1Department of Molecular Visual Plasticity, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Iscience
|December 17, 2024
Summary
Astrocytes, not interneurons, are crucial for cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R) roles in visual cortex development. Removing astrocytic CB1Rs impairs inhibitory synapse maturation and ocular dominance plasticity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Endocannabinoids and cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1Rs) regulate neuronal plasticity.
- CB1Rs in the visual cortex are vital for inhibitory circuit maturation.
- Astrocytic CB1Rs have an emerging, yet understudied, role in plasticity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of cell-type-specific CB1R deletion from astrocytes versus interneurons.
- To determine the role of astrocytic CB1Rs in inhibitory synapse development and ocular dominance plasticity in the visual cortex.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cell-type-specific genetic manipulation in mouse models.
- Assessed inhibitory synaptic transmission and maturation.
- Measured ocular dominance plasticity during the critical period.
Main Results:
- Removal of CB1Rs from astrocytes disrupted inhibitory synaptic transmission maturation.
- Astrocytic CB1R deletion significantly reduced ocular dominance plasticity.
- Deletion of CB1Rs from interneurons did not affect these developmental processes.
Conclusions:
- Astrocytic CB1Rs play a critical, previously unrecognized role in visual cortex development and critical period plasticity.
- Glial cells, specifically astrocytes, are key mediators of synaptic maturation and sensory circuit plasticity.
