UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Astrocytes regulate brain extracellular pH via a neuronal activity-dependent bicarbonate shuttle

Theparambil, SM; Hosford, PS; Ruminot, I; Kopach, O; Reynolds, JR; Sandoval, PY; Rusakov, DA; ... Gourine, AV; + view all (2020) Astrocytes regulate brain extracellular pH via a neuronal activity-dependent bicarbonate shuttle. Nature Communications , 11 , Article 5073. 10.1038/s41467-020-18756-3. Green open access

[thumbnail of s41467-020-18756-3.pdf]
Preview
Text
s41467-020-18756-3.pdf - Published Version

Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract

Brain cells continuously produce and release protons into the extracellular space, with the rate of acid production corresponding to the levels of neuronal activity and metabolism. Efficient buffering and removal of excess H+ is essential for brain function, not least because all the electrogenic and biochemical machinery of synaptic transmission is highly sensitive to changes in pH. Here, we describe an astroglial mechanism that contributes to the protection of the brain milieu from acidification. In vivo and in vitro experiments conducted in rodent models show that at least one third of all astrocytes release bicarbonate to buffer extracellular H+ loads associated with increases in neuronal activity. The underlying signalling mechanism involves activity-dependent release of ATP triggering bicarbonate secretion by astrocytes via activation of metabotropic P2Y1 receptors, recruitment of phospholipase C, release of Ca2+ from the internal stores, and facilitated outward HCO3− transport by the electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter 1, NBCe1. These results show that astrocytes maintain local brain extracellular pH homeostasis via a neuronal activity-dependent release of bicarbonate. The data provide evidence of another important metabolic housekeeping function of these glial cells.

Type: Article
Title: Astrocytes regulate brain extracellular pH via a neuronal activity-dependent bicarbonate shuttle
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18756-3
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18756-3
Language: English
Additional information: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Keywords: Astrocyte, Neurochemistry, Neuronal physiology
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology > Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences > Neuro, Physiology and Pharmacology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10112803
Downloads since deposit
79Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item