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Intercellular calcium waves in neurons

A C Charles1, S K Kodali, R F Tyndale

  • 1Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, 90024, USA.

Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences
|May 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary
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Spontaneous intercellular calcium (Ca2+) waves were observed in cultured neurons, propagating via gap junctions. This nonsynaptic signaling mechanism involves Ca2+ influx and depolarization.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Intercellular communication is crucial for neuronal network function.
  • Calcium signaling plays a vital role in neuronal activity and plasticity.
  • Nonsynaptic communication mechanisms are increasingly recognized in the nervous system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the occurrence and mechanisms of spontaneous intercellular calcium waves in cultured neurons.
  • To determine the role of gap junctions in mediating these calcium waves.
  • To explore the potential for nonsynaptic neuronal signaling via intercellular calcium waves.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized primary mouse cortical neurons and GT1-1 immortalized neurons for cell culture.
  • Observed and measured intercellular Ca2+ waves using calcium imaging techniques.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Assessed the involvement of extracellular calcium, nimodipine, tetrodotoxin, and octanol in wave propagation.
  • Quantified connexin26 mRNA levels in different neuronal cell lines.

    • Main Results:

    • Spontaneous intercellular Ca2+ waves were detected in primary mouse cortical and GT1-1 neurons, propagating at 100-200 microns/s over large cell populations.
    • Wave propagation was abolished by removing extracellular calcium, and by applying nimodipine, tetrodotoxin, or the gap junction inhibitor octanol.
    • GT1-7 neurons, a sister clone of GT1-1, exhibited no Ca2+ waves and had lower connexin26 mRNA levels.
    • These findings suggest a primary role for gap junctions in mediating the observed calcium waves.

    Conclusions:

    • Intercellular Ca2+ waves in cultured neurons are primarily generated by Ca2+ influx through gap junctions, driven by depolarization.
    • Gap junction-mediated intercellular Ca2+ signaling represents a significant nonsynaptic communication pathway in neuronal networks.
    • This mechanism may contribute to coordinated activity and information processing in the brain.