Neuromodulators signal through astrocytes to alter neural circuit activity and behaviour.

ABSTRACT: Astrocytes associate with synapses throughout the brain and express receptors for neurotransmitters that can increase intracellular calcium (Ca²⁺). Astrocytic Ca²⁺ signalling has been proposed to modulate neural circuit activity, but the pathways that regulate these events are poorly defined and in vivo evidence linking changes in astrocyte Ca²⁺ levels to alterations in neurotransmission or behaviour is limited. Here we show that Drosophila astrocytes exhibit activity-regulated Ca²⁺ signalling in vivo. Tyramine and octopamine released from neurons expressing tyrosine decarboxylase 2 (Tdc2) signal directly to astrocytes to stimulate Ca²⁺ increases through the octopamine/tyramine receptor (Oct-TyrR) and the transient receptor potential (

SUBMITTER: Ma Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5161596 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature