Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 52, Issues 1–2, 23 November 1984, Pages 25-29
Neuroscience Letters

Aspartate, glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid depolarize cultured astrocytes

https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(84)90345-8Get rights and content

Abstract

Cultures of differentiated, glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes from early postnatal rat cerebral hemispheres respond with depolarization of 2–36 mV to glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and aspartate but not to glycine or taurine. While GABA resulted in a transient depolarization, the effect of glutamate and aspartate persisted during the application. Since neurons were not present in these cultures a contribution of transmitter-mediated K+ release from adjacent neurons could be excluded. The depolarization triggered by these neurotransmitters is therefore an intrinsic reaction of astrocytes.

Cited by (177)

  • Neuroglia: Function and Pathology

    2023, Neuroglia: Function and Pathology
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text