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Optogenetic activation of LiGluR‐expressing astrocytes evokes anion channel‐mediated glutamate release
Author(s) -
Li Dongdong,
Hérault Karine,
Isacoff Ehud Y.,
Oheim Martin,
Ropert Nicole
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.219345
Subject(s) - optogenetics , glutamate receptor , exocytosis , biophysics , astrocyte , neuroscience , channelrhodopsin , chemistry , ion channel , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , receptor , membrane , central nervous system
Non‐technical summary Ca 2+ increases in astrocytes have been suggested to trigger the release of neuroactive compounds called gliotransmitters. To study the mechanism of gliotransmitter release, it is desirable to have a method able to selectively and reproducibly evoke Ca 2+ increases in astrocytes. Here, we show that the optogenetic tool the light‐gated glutamate receptor 6 (LiGluR) reproducibly evokes Ca 2+ rises in cultured astrocytes. Combining LiGluR photoactivation and evanescent‐field Ca 2+ imaging, we explored the cellular mechanism of gliotransmitter release from astrocytes in an all‐optical manner. The results suggest that high Ca 2+ in astrocytes triggers the release of glutamate via anion channels rather than vesicular exocytosis.