Astrocytic Ca²⁺ signaling is reduced during sleep and is involved in the regulation of slow wave sleep.

ABSTRACT: Astrocytic Ca²⁺ signaling has been intensively studied in health and disease but has not been quantified during natural sleep. Here, we employ an activity-based algorithm to assess astrocytic Ca²⁺ signals in the neocortex of awake and naturally sleeping mice while monitoring neuronal Ca²⁺ activity, brain rhythms and behavior. We show that astrocytic Ca²⁺ signals exhibit distinct features across the sleep-wake cycle and are reduced during sleep compared to wakefulness. Moreover, an increase in astrocytic Ca²⁺ signaling precedes transitions from slow wave sleep to wakefulness, with a peak upon awakening exceeding the levels during whisking and locomotion. Finally, genetic ablation of an important astrocytic Ca²⁺ signaling path

SUBMITTER: Bojarskaite L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7338360 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature