Analysis of Functional NMDA Receptors in Astrocytes

Frank Kirchhoff; Wannan Tang

doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-3830-9_11

Analysis of Functional NMDA Receptors in Astrocytes

Methods Mol Biol. 2024:2799:201-223. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3830-9_11.

Authors

Frank Kirchhoff¹, Wannan Tang²

Affiliations

¹ Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany.
² Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway. wannan.tang@ntnu.no.

PMID: 38727909
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3830-9_11

Abstract

Neuronal N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are well known for their pivotal role in memory formation. Originally, they were thought to be exclusive to neurons. However, numerous studies revealed their functional expression also on various types of glial cells in the nervous system. Here, the methodology on how to study the physiology of NMDA receptors selectively on astrocytes will be described in detail. Astrocytes are the main class of neuroglia that control transmitter and ion homeostasis, which link cerebral blood flow and neuronal energy demands, but also affect synaptic transmission directly.

Keywords: Astrocyte; Ca2+ imaging; Cortex; GFAP-EGFP transgenic mice; Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicator; Mouse; NMDA receptor; Neuron–glial interaction; Patch-clamp recording; rAAV gene delivery.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Astrocytes* / metabolism
Cells, Cultured
Mice
Neurons / metabolism
Patch-Clamp Techniques / methods
Rats
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate* / metabolism

Substances

Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate