Abstract
Information transfer within neuronal circuits depends on the balance and recurrent activity of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. Chloride (Cl -) is the major central nervous system (CNS) anion mediating inhibitory neurotransmission. Astrocytes are key homoeostatic glial cells populating the CNS, although the role of these cells in regulating excitatory-inhibitory balance remains unexplored. Here we show that astrocytes act as a dynamic Cl - reservoir regulating Cl - homoeostasis in the CNS. We found that intracellular chloride concentration ([Cl -] i) in astrocytes is high and stable during sleep. In awake mice astrocytic [Cl -] i is lower and exhibits large fluctuation in response to both sensory input and motor activity. Optogenetic manipulation of astrocytic [Cl -] i directly modulates neuronal activity during locomotion or whisker stimulation. Astrocytes thus serve as a dynamic source of extracellular Cl - available for GABAergic transmission in awake mice, which represents a mechanism for modulation of the inhibitory tone during sustained neuronal activity.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 1871 |
Journal | Nature Communications |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 1 |
Number of pages | 14 |
ISSN | 2041-1723 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2023 |
Bibliographical note
© 2023. The Author(s).Keywords
- Mice
- Animals
- Astrocytes/physiology
- Chlorides
- Synaptic Transmission
- Neuroglia
- Brain