Ca2 dependent glutamate release from astrocytes:

1

• Ca2-dependent glutamate release from astrocytes
  
• mechanism and impact on synaptic functions
• Andrea Volterra
• DBCM, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
• Activation of astrocyte glutamate receptors and
  Ca2 signalling during
• synaptic transmission in the hippocampus
• Ca2 elevations in astrocytes are accompanied by
  release of glutamate
• indirect evidence for an-exocytosis-like
  mechanism
• Ultrastructural identification of a vesicular
  compartment for storage and
• release of glutamate in hippocampal astrocytes
• Real-time monitoring of glutamate exocytosis
  from astrocytes with TIRFM
• Activation of purinergic receptors in astrocytes
  induces glutamate release
• and NMDA-dependent enhancement of mEPSCs at
  granule cell synapses in
• the dentate gyrus.
• References
• Pasti L. Volterra A. Pozzan T. Carmignoto G.
  (1997) Intracellular calcium oscillations in
  astrocytes a highly plastic, bidirectional form
  of
• communication between neurons and
  astrocytes in situ. J. Neurosci. 177817-7830
• Bezzi P. Carmignoto G. Pasti L. Vesce S.
  Rossi D. Rizzini B. Pozzan T. Volterra A.
  (1998) Prostaglandins stimulate calcium-dependent