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Melanopsin for precise optogenetic activation of astrocyte‐neuron networks
Author(s) -
Mederos Sara,
HernándezVivanco Alicia,
RamírezFranco Jorge,
MartínFernández Mario,
Navarrete Marta,
Yang Aimei,
Boyden Edward S.,
Perea Gertrudis
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/glia.23580
Subject(s) - melanopsin , optogenetics , neuroscience , biology , astrocyte , photopigment , retina , excitatory postsynaptic potential , neuron , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , central nervous system
Optogenetics has been widely expanded to enhance or suppress neuronal activity and it has been recently applied to glial cells. Here, we have used a new approach based on selective expression of melanopsin, a G‐protein‐coupled photopigment, in astrocytes to trigger Ca 2+ signaling. Using the genetically encoded Ca 2+ indicator GCaMP6f and two‐photon imaging, we show that melanopsin is both competent to stimulate robust IP3‐dependent Ca 2+ signals in astrocyte fine processes, and to evoke an ATP/Adenosine‐dependent transient boost of hippocampal excitatory synaptic transmission. Additionally, under low‐frequency light stimulation conditions, melanopsin‐transfected astrocytes can trigger long‐term synaptic changes. In vivo, melanopsin‐astrocyte activation enhances episodic‐like memory, suggesting melanopsin as an optical tool that could recapitulate the wide range of regulatory actions of astrocytes on neuronal networks in behaving animals. These results describe a novel approach using melanopsin as a precise trigger for astrocytes that mimics their endogenous G‐protein signaling pathways, and present melanopsin as a valuable optical tool for neuron–glia studies.