@conference{
author = "Nikolic, Ljiljana and Bataveljic, Danijela and Bijelic, Dunja and Milicevic, Katarina and Bogdanović Pristov, Jelena",
year = "2023",
abstract = "The neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) plays a central role in regulating arousal,
attention, cognitive function and stress responses. Unlike fast neurotransmitters which
act at synapses, NE is released in the neuropil and performs multiple targeting in the
surrounding area. The glial cells astrocytes are a direct target of NE, as they express
all adrenergic receptor subtypes and respond with Ca2+ increases to NE. Astroglial
responses elicited by strong and transient increases of NE in the brain are well studied,
but the effect of a low background NE concentration on astrocytes is unknown. This
background level of NE is maintained by basal noradrenergic activity and is
constantly present in the brain. Therefore, the response of astrocytes to the
background NE could have been unintentionally evoked in previous studies but its
effect overlooked.
To assess action of background NE on astrocytes we combined the whole-cell patch
clamp, immunohistochemistry, Ca2+ imaging and pharmacology. We used cultured
cortical astrocytes to bypass NE targeting of multiple cell types.
We show that cortical astrocytes detect and respond to the background NE
concentration with an increase in intracellular Ca2+. This Ca2+ liberated from
intracellular stores further increased large-conductance, Ca2+-sensitive potassium
(BK) currents in astrocytes. Notably, immunohistochemistry data showed that BK
channels and alpha 1 adrenoreceptor are highly expressed in astrocytes in the rat
cortex. Furthermore, stimulation of astrocytes by background NE was inhibited by
alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist.
Our results suggest that astrocytes maintain basal brain activity by perceiving and
responding to the background NE.",
publisher = "Serbian Neuroscience Society, Belgrade",
journal = "8th CONGRESS OF SERBIAN NEUROSCIENCE SOCIETY with international participation 31 May – 2 June 2023. Belgrade, Serbia - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS",
title = "Background norepinephrine impacts activity of cortical astrocytes",
pages = "51",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_rimsi_2015"
}