Characterization of ryanodine receptors in oligodendrocytes, type 2 astrocytes, and O-2A progenitors

✍ Scribed by Peter B. Simpson; Lynne A. Holtzclaw; David B. Langley; James T. Russell

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 558 KB
• Volume: 52
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0360-4012
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(19980515)52:4<468::aid-jnr11>3.0.co;2-#

✦ Synopsis

In this study we have investigated the expression of ryanodine receptors (RyRs), and the ability of caffeine to evoke RyR-mediated elevation of intracellular Ca 2؉ levels ([Ca 2؉ ] i ) in glial cells of the oligodendrocyte/ type 2 astrocyte lineage. Immunocytochemistry with specific antibodies identified ryanodine receptors in cultured oligodendrocytes, type 2 astrocytes, and O-2A progenitor cells, at high levels in the perinuclear region and in a variegated pattern along processes. Glia acutely isolated from rat brain and in aldehydefixed sections of cortex were similarly found to express RyRs. Caffeine (5-50 mM) caused an increase in [Ca 2؉ ] i in most cultured type 2 astrocytes and in 50% of oligodendrocytes. Responses elicited by caffeine were inhibited by pretreatment with ryanodine (10 M) or thapsigargin (1 M), and the peak response was unaffected by removal of [Ca 2؉ ] o . O-2A progenitor cells, in contrast, were largely unresponsive to caffeine treatment. Pretreatment with kainate (200 M) to activate Ca 2؉ entry increased the magnitude of caffeine-evoked [Ca 2؉ ] i elevations in type 2 astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, and caused caffeine to activate responses in a significant proportion of previously non-responding O-2A progenitors. In both type 2 astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, caffeine evoked Ca 2؉ changes which propagated as wavefronts from several initiation sites. These wave amplification sites were characterized by significantly higher local Ca 2؉ release kinetics. Our results indicate that several glial cell types express RyRs, and that their functionality differs within different cell types of the oligodendrocyte lineage. In addition, ionotropic glutamate receptor activation fills the caffeine-sensitive Ca 2؉ stores in these cells.