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Homeostatic function of astrocytes: Ca2+ and Na+ signalling

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Translational Neuroscience

Abstract

The name astroglia unifies many non-excitable neural cells that act as primary homeostatic cells in the nervous system. Neuronal activity triggers multiple homeostatic responses of astroglia that include increase in metabolic activity and synthesis of neuronal preferred energy substrate lactate, clearance of neurotransmitters and buffering of extracellular K+ ions to name but a few. Many (if not all) of astroglial homeostatic responses are controlled by dynamic changes in the cytoplasmic concentration of two cations, Ca2+ and Na+. Intracellular concentration of these ions is tightly controlled by several transporters and can be rapidly affected by the activation of respective fluxes through ionic channels or ion exchangers. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of astroglial Ca2+ and Na+ signalling.

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Abbreviations

AMPA:

α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid

[Ca2+]i :

cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration

[Ca2+]L :

intra-ER (or intraluminal) free Ca2+ concentration

CNS:

central nervous system

CRAC:

Ca2+-release activated Ca2+

ER:

endoplasmic reticulum

GABA:

γ-aminobutyric acid

InsP3R:

inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (InsP3)-gated Ca2+ channel/receptor

[Na+]i :

cytoplasmic Na+ concentration

NCX:

Na+/Ca2+ exchanger

NKA:

Na+/K+ ATPase

NMDA:

N-methyl D-aspartate

PLC:

phospholipase C

PMCA:

plasmalemmal Ca2+ ATPase

RyR:

ryanodine receptor

SERCA:

sarco(endoplasmic) reticulum Ca2+ ATPase

SLC:

solute carrier

TRP:

transient receptor potential

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology, Center for Glial Biology in Medicine, Atomic Force Microscopy & Nanotechnology Laboratories, Civitan International Research Center, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA

    Vladimir Parpura

  2. Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia

    Vladimir Parpura

  3. IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011, Bilbao, Spain

    Vladimir Parpura & Alexei Verkhratsky

  4. Department of Neurosciences, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940, Leioa, Spain

    Vladimir Parpura & Alexei Verkhratsky

  5. Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK

    Alexei Verkhratsky

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  1. Vladimir Parpura
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Correspondence to Vladimir Parpura.

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Parpura, V., Verkhratsky, A. Homeostatic function of astrocytes: Ca2+ and Na+ signalling. Translat.Neurosci. 3, 334–344 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2478/s13380-012-0040-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13380-012-0040-y

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