scholarly journals Glutamate transporter GLAST controls synaptic wrapping by Bergmann glia and ensures proper wiring of Purkinje cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (28) ◽  
pp. 7438-7443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taisuke Miyazaki ◽  
Miwako Yamasaki ◽  
Kouichi Hashimoto ◽  
Kazuhisa Kohda ◽  
Michisuke Yuzaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Purkinje Cells ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Glutamate Transporter ◽  
Glutamate Transporters ◽  
Bergmann Glia ◽  
Synaptic Organization ◽  
Pharmacological Blockade ◽  
Cerebellar Astrocytes ◽  
Almost All

Astrocytes regulate synaptic transmission through controlling neurotransmitter concentrations around synapses. Little is known, however, about their roles in neural circuit development. Here we report that Bergmann glia (BG), specialized cerebellar astrocytes that thoroughly enwrap Purkinje cells (PCs), are essential for synaptic organization in PCs through the action of the l-glutamate/l-aspartate transporter (GLAST). In GLAST-knockout mice, dendritic innervation by the main ascending climbing fiber (CF) branch was significantly weakened, whereas the transverse branch, which is thin and nonsynaptogenic in control mice, was transformed into thick and synaptogenic branches. Both types of CF branches frequently produced aberrant wiring to proximal and distal dendrites, causing multiple CF–PC innervation. Our electrophysiological analysis revealed that slow and small CF-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) were recorded from almost all PCs in GLAST-knockout mice. These atypical CF-EPSCs were far more numerous and had significantly faster 10–90% rise time than those elicited by glutamate spillover under pharmacological blockade of glial glutamate transporters. Innervation by parallel fibers (PFs) was also affected. PF synapses were robustly increased in the entire dendritic trees, leading to impaired segregation of CF and PF territories. Furthermore, lamellate BG processes were retracted from PC dendrites and synapses, leading to the exposure of these neuronal elements to the extracellular milieus. These synaptic and glial phenotypes were reproduced in wild-type mice after functional blockade of glial glutamate transporters. These findings highlight that glutamate transporter function by GLAST on BG plays important roles in development and maintenance of proper synaptic wiring and wrapping in PCs.

Detrimental implication of B1 receptors in myocardial ischemia: evidence from pharmacological blockade and gene knockout mice

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 815-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Lagneux ◽  
Michael Bader ◽  
João B. Pesquero ◽  
Pierre Demenge ◽  
Christophe Ribuot
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Ischemia ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Gene Knockout ◽  
B1 Receptors ◽  
Gene Knockout Mice ◽  
Pharmacological Blockade

scholarly journals Protective Effect of Memantine on Bergmann Glia and Purkinje Cells Morphology in Optogenetic Model of Neurodegeneration in Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7822
Author(s):  
Anton N. Shuvaev ◽  
Olga S. Belozor ◽  
Oleg I. Mozhei ◽  
Elena D. Khilazheva ◽  
Andrey N. Shuvaev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Excitatory Amino Acid ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Glutamate Transporter ◽  
Bergmann Glia ◽  
Spinocerebellar Ataxias ◽  
Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter ◽  
Glial Glutamate Transporter ◽  
Gfap Immunoreactivity ◽  
Cerebellar Ataxias ◽  
Receptor Blockers

Spinocerebellar ataxias are a family of fatal inherited diseases affecting the brain. Although specific mutated proteins are different, they may have a common pathogenetic mechanism, such as insufficient glutamate clearance. This function fails in reactive glia, leading to excitotoxicity and overactivation of NMDA receptors. Therefore, NMDA receptor blockers could be considered for the management of excitotoxicity. One such drug, memantine, currently used for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, could potentially be used for the treatment of other forms of neurodegeneration, for example, spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA). We previously demonstrated close parallels between optogenetically induced cerebellar degeneration and SCA1. Here we induced reactive transformation of cerebellar Bergmann glia (BG) using this novel optogenetic approach and tested whether memantine could counteract changes in BG and Purkinje cell (PC) morphology and expression of the main glial glutamate transporter—excitatory amino acid transporter 1 (EAAT1). Reactive BG induced by chronic optogenetic stimulation presented increased GFAP immunoreactivity, increased thickness and decreased length of its processes. Oral memantine (~90 mg/kg/day for 4 days) prevented thickening of the processes (1.57 to 1.81 vs. 1.62 μm) and strongly antagonized light-induced reduction in their average length (186.0 to 150.8 vs. 171.9 μm). Memantine also prevented the loss of the key glial glutamate transporter EAAT1 on BG. Finally, memantine reduced the loss of PC (4.2 ± 0.2 to 3.2 ± 0.2 vs. 4.1 ± 0.3 cells per 100 μm of the PC layer). These results identify memantine as potential neuroprotective therapeutics for cerebellar ataxias.

Glutamate transporter GLAST is essential for cytodifferentiation of Bergmann glia and maintenance of excitatory synaptic wiring in the cerebellum

2011 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. e63
Author(s):  
Taisuke Miyazaki ◽  
Miwako Yamasaki ◽  
Kouichi Hashimoto ◽  
Keiko Shimamoto ◽  
Kazuhisa Kohda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Transporter ◽  
Bergmann Glia

scholarly journals Stereotyped spatial patterns of functional synaptic connectivity in the cerebellar cortex

eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine M Valera ◽  
Francesca Binda ◽  
Sophie A Pawlowski ◽  
Jean-Luc Dupont ◽  
Jean-François Casella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Purkinje Cells ◽  
Cerebellar Cortex ◽  
Granule Cell ◽  
Motor Coordination ◽  
Molecular Layer ◽  
Granule Cell Layer ◽  
Synaptic Organization ◽  
Cerebellar Modules ◽  
Activity Dependent

Motor coordination is supported by an array of highly organized heterogeneous modules in the cerebellum. How incoming sensorimotor information is channeled and communicated between these anatomical modules is still poorly understood. In this study, we used transgenic mice expressing GFP in specific subsets of Purkinje cells that allowed us to target a given set of cerebellar modules. Combining in vitro recordings and photostimulation, we identified stereotyped patterns of functional synaptic organization between the granule cell layer and its main targets, the Purkinje cells, Golgi cells and molecular layer interneurons. Each type of connection displayed position-specific patterns of granule cell synaptic inputs that do not strictly match with anatomical boundaries but connect distant cortical modules. Although these patterns can be adjusted by activity-dependent processes, they were found to be consistent and predictable between animals. Our results highlight the operational rules underlying communication between modules in the cerebellar cortex.

Continuous versus intermittent theta burst stimulation in the treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: a glutamate transporters study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milica Ninkovic ◽  
Mirjana Djukic ◽  
Bojana Mancic ◽  
Petar Milosavljevic ◽  
Ivana Stojanovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Transporter ◽  
Glutamate Transporters ◽  
Dark Agouti ◽  
Theta Burst Stimulation ◽  
Burst Stimulation ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Glial Glutamate Transporter ◽  
Elevated Expression ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Theta Burst

Abstract Background: Synaptic overload with glutamate aggravates neurotransmission and worsen the progression of the neurodegenerative disease, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The experimentally induced autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rats is a well-established animal model to study MS. Glutamate reuptake occurs by glial glutamate transporter (GLT-1), and glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST) localized predominantly in astrocytes terminals. The focus of the study addressing the expression of these transporters in EAE rats and those subjected to theta burst stimulation (TBS), that promotes long-lasting modulation of neuronal activity in rats/humans. Leading by the reported outcomes of TBS, we examined if TBS underlying mechanisms refer to astroglial glutamate transporters status.Methods : We studied changes in the expression of glial glutamate transporter GLT-1 and glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), in the spinal cord of EAE rats, subjected to intermittent (iTBS) and continuous (cTBS) theta burst stimulation. We quantified the expression of GLAST, GLT-1, and GFAP by immunofluorescence in control and experimental groups of Dark Agouti rats.Results: EAE elevated expression of GFAP, GLAST, and GLT-1. Both TBSs reduced the expression of GFAP. Continual TBS did not interfere with glutamate transporters in EAE rats, while iTBS decreased GLT-1, and increased GLAST.Conclusion: Continual TBS reduced astrogliosis more efficiently than iTBS, in EAE rats. Besides, it did not mitigate the glutamate transporters' expression; thus, glutamate reuptake remained upraised in cTBS exposed EAE rats. Accordingly, we concluded that cTBS might advance the remyelination of damaged neuronal cells in EAE rats. The future clinical trials on the treatment of MS may consider the data of this pre-clinical animal study.

scholarly journals Effects of Cocaine Exposure on Astrocytic Glutamate Transporters and Relapse-Like Ethanol-Drinking Behavior in Male Alcohol-Preferring Rats

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alaa M Hammad ◽  
Youssef Sari
Keyword(s):  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Glutamate Transporter ◽  
Glutamate Transporters ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Ethanol Intake ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Cocaine Exposure ◽  
Extracellular Glutamate ◽  
Lactam Antibiotic

Abstract Aim Glutamate has been considered as neurotransmitter that is critical in triggering relapse to drugs of abuse, including ethanol and cocaine. Extracellular glutamate concentrations are tightly regulated by several mechanisms, including reuptake through glutamate transporters. Glutamate transporter type 1 (GLT-1) is responsible for clearing the majority of extracellular glutamate. The astrocytic cystine/glutamate antiporter (xCT) regulates also glutamate homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the effects of cocaine exposure and ampicillin/sulbactam (AMP/SUL), a β-lactam antibiotic known to upregulate GLT-1 and xCT, on relapse-like ethanol intake and the expression of astrocytic glutamate transporters in mesocorticolimbic brain regions. Methods Male alcohol-preferring (P) rats had free access to ethanol for 5 weeks. On Week 6, rats were exposed to either cocaine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline for 12 consecutive days. Ethanol bottles were then removed for 7 days; during the last 5 days, either AMP/SUL (100 or 200 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline was administered to the P rats. Ethanol bottles were reintroduced, and ethanol intake was measured for 4 days. Results Cocaine exposure induced an alcohol deprivation effect (ADE), which was associated in part by a decrease in the expression of GLT-1 and xCT in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core. AMP/SUL (100 mg/kg, i.p.) attenuated the ADE, while AMP/SUL (200 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced ethanol intake during 4 days of ethanol re-exposure and upregulated GLT-1 and xCT expression in the NAc core, NAc shell and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). Conclusion This study suggests that these astrocytic glutamate transporters might be considered as potential targets for the treatment of polysubstance abuse.

Effect of Modulation of the Astrocytic Glutamate Transporters’ Expression on Cocaine-Induced Reinstatement in Male P Rats Exposed to Ethanol

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alaa M Hammad ◽  
Fawaz Alasmari ◽  
Youssef Sari
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Glutamate Transporter ◽  
Glutamate Transporters ◽  
Ethanol Exposure ◽  
Ethanol Intake ◽  
Cocaine Exposure ◽  
Cocaine Seeking ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Lactam Antibiotic ◽  
Glutamate Transporter 1

Abstract Aim Reinforcing properties of ethanol and cocaine are mediated in part through the glutamatergic system. Extracellular glutamate concentration is strictly maintained through several glutamate transporters, such as glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1), cystine/glutamate transporter (xCT) and glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST). Previous findings revealed that cocaine and ethanol exposure downregulated GLT-1 and xCT, and that β-lactam antibiotics restored their expression. Methods In this study, we investigated the effect of ampicillin/sulbactam (AMP/SUL) (200 mg/kg, i.p.), a β-lactam antibiotic, on cocaine-induced reinstatement and locomotor activity in male alcohol preferring (P) rats using free choice ethanol (15 and 30%, v/v) and water. We also investigated the effect of co-exposure to ethanol and cocaine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) on GLT-1, xCT and GLAST expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core, NAc shell and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). Results Cocaine exposure decreased ethanol intake and preference. Cocaine and ethanol co-exposure acquired place preference and increased locomotor activity compared to ethanol-exposed rats. GLT-1 and xCT expression were downregulated after cocaine and ethanol co-exposure in the NAc core and shell, but not in dmPFC. AMP/SUL attenuated reinstatement to cocaine as well attenuated the decrease in locomotor activity and ethanol intake and preference. These effects were associated with upregulation of GLT-1 and xCT expression in the NAc core/shell and dmPFC. GLAST expression was not affected after ethanol and cocaine co-exposure or AMP/SUL treatment. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that astrocytic glutamate transporters within the mesocorticolimbic area are critical targets in modulating cocaine-seeking behavior while being consuming ethanol.

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