Chronic vs. acute interactions between supraoptic oxytocin neurons and astrocytes during lactation: role of glial fibrillary acidic protein plasticity.

TheScientificWorldJournal
Yu-Feng Wang, Kathryn Hamilton

Abstract

In this article, we review studies of astrocytic-neuronal interactions and their effects on the activity of oxytocin (OXT) neurons within the magnocellular hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. Previous work over several decades has shown that withdrawal of astrocyte processes increases OXT neuron excitability in the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) during lactation. However, chronically disabling astrocyte withdrawal does not significantly affect the functioning of OXT neurons during suckling. Nevertheless, acute changes in a cytoskeletal element of astrocytes, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), occur in concert with changes in OXT neuronal activity during suckling. Here, we compare these changes in GFAP and related proteins with chronic changes that persist throughout lactation. During lactation, a decrease in GFAP levels accompanies retraction of astrocyte processes surrounding OXT neurons in the SON, resulting from high extracellular levels of OXT. During the initial stage of suckling, acute increases in OXT levels further strengthen this GFAP reduction and facilitate the retraction of astrocyte processes. This change, in turn, facilitates burst discharges of OXT neurons and leads to a transient increase in excitat...Continue Reading

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Citations

Aug 25, 2010·Neuroscience Letters·Porfirio Gómora-ArratiIgnacio Camacho-Arroyo
Aug 5, 2014·European Journal of Pharmacology·J G VeeningB Olivier
Nov 12, 2016·Neurochemical Research·Jiang Shan ZhanAlbert Cheung Hoi Yu
Mar 2, 2018·Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health·Riley M Bove
Nov 21, 2020·Neurochemical Research·Stephani C WangYu-Feng Wang

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