| First Author | Forsberg D | Year | 2017 |
| Journal | Elife | Volume | 6 |
| PubMed ID | 28976306 | Mgi Jnum | J:247629 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5920433 | Doi | 10.7554/eLife.29566 |
| Citation | Forsberg D, et al. (2017) Astrocytes release prostaglandin E2 to modify respiratory network activity. Elife 6:e29566 |
| abstractText | Previously (Forsberg et al., 2016), we revealed that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), released during hypercapnic challenge, increases calcium oscillations in the chemosensitive parafacial respiratory group (pFRG/RTN). Here, we demonstrate that pFRG/RTN astrocytes are the PGE2 source. Two distinct astrocyte subtypes were found using transgenic mice expressing GFP and MrgA1 receptors in astrocytes. Although most astrocytes appeared dormant during time-lapse calcium imaging, a subgroup displayed persistent, rhythmic oscillating calcium activity. These active astrocytes formed a subnetwork within the respiratory network distinct from the neuronal network. Activation of exogenous MrgA1Rs expressed in astrocytes tripled astrocytic calcium oscillation frequency in both the preBotzinger complex and pFRG/RTN. However, neurons in the preBotC were unaffected, whereas neuronal calcium oscillatory frequency in pFRG/RTN doubled. Notably, astrocyte activation in pFRG/RTN triggered local PGE2 release and blunted the hypercapnic response. Thus, astrocytes play an active role in respiratory rhythm modulation, modifying respiratory-related behavior through PGE2 release in the pFRG/RTN. |
