Numerous lines of evidence suggest that astrocytes actively participate in regulating neuronal excitability, but the role of astrocyte swelling in conrol of neuronal excitability has never been directly tested. Our long-term goal is to identify and understand astrocytic mechanisms controlling neuronal excitability. The objective in this particular application is to determine how specific manipulations of astrocyte swelling and swelling-evoked glutamate release lead to changes in neuronal excitability in situ and in vivo. The central hypothesis is that astrocyte swelling and glutamate release from astrocytic volume-regulated anion channels (VRAC) is both necessary and sufficient to elevate neuronal excitability in situ and in vivo. The rationale for the proposed research is that, identification o novel astrocytic pathways controlling neuronal excitability will provide new astrocytic drug targets for the treatment of neurological disorders and neurodegenerative disease. Guided by strong preliminary data, the central hypothesis will be tested by pursuing three specific aims: 1) Determine the extent to which astrocyte swelling-evoked glutamate release is necessary to increase neuronal excitability in situ;2) Determine the extent to which astrocyte swelling-evoked glutamate release is sufficient to increase neuronal excitability in situ;and 3) Determine the contribution of astrocyte swelling to the control of neuronal excitability in vivo. Astrocyte swellng and glutamate release will be selectively manipulated using patch clamp and transgenic approaches, together with real-time imaging of astrocyte volume changes during recording of NMDA receptor activity in CA1 pyramidal neurons in acute hippocampal slices (Aims 1 and 2), and the effects of hypoosmolarity, hyperosmolarity and selective inhibitors on astrocytic volume changes and neuronal excitability will be assayed in vivo (Aim 3). Our approach is innovative, in our opinion, because it represents a significant departure from the status quo of assessing the role of astrocyte Ca2+-dependent gliotransmission in regulating neuronal excitability, and because techniques have been developed and proven feasible in our hands to selectively and specifically manipulate astrocyte volume changes and release of glutamate. The proposed re- search is significant, because once astrocytic mechanisms controlling neuronal excitability become clarified, novel astrocyte-directed therapies can be devised to prevent excessive levels of neuronal excitability while leaving basal levels of neuronal excitability and normal cognitive function intact. Such knowledge will also pro- vide new strategies to treat neurological disorders associated with cellular volume changes (including various forms of edema), while also fundamentally advancing our understanding of glial-neuronal interactions.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed research is relevant to public health because the discovery of astrocyte volume- regulated mechanisms controlling neuronal excitability will increase understanding of the pathogenesis of numerous neurological disorders and diseases including cerebral edema, stroke, ischemia, water intoxication, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease. The project is relevant to NIH's mission, as the research pursues fundamental knowledge of astrocyte-neuron interactions in the brain, which may provide a foundation for the development of novel and more effective strategies to treat neurological disorders by selectively targeting astrocytic receptors and channels.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS082570-02
Application #
8675296
Study Section
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Glia Study Section (CMBG)
Program Officer
Stewart, Randall R
Project Start
2013-06-05
Project End
2018-05-31
Budget Start
2014-06-01
Budget End
2015-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Riverside
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Earth Sciences/Resources
DUNS #
City
Riverside
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92521
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Hubbard, Jacqueline A; Binder, Devin K (2017) Unaltered Glutamate Transporter-1 Protein Levels in Aquaporin-4 Knockout Mice. ASN Neuro 9:1759091416687846
Murphy, Thomas R; Binder, Devin K; Fiacco, Todd A (2017) Turning down the volume: Astrocyte volume change in the generation and termination of epileptic seizures. Neurobiol Dis 104:24-32
Szu, Jenny I; Binder, Devin K (2016) The Role of Astrocytic Aquaporin-4 in Synaptic Plasticity and Learning and Memory. Front Integr Neurosci 10:8
Hubbard, Jacqueline A; Szu, Jenny I; Yonan, Jennifer M et al. (2016) Regulation of astrocyte glutamate transporter-1 (GLT1) and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression in a model of epilepsy. Exp Neurol 283:85-96
Galanopoulou, Aristea S; Wong, Michael; Binder, Devin et al. (2016) 2014 Epilepsy Benchmarks Area II: Prevent Epilepsy and Its Progression. Epilepsy Curr 16:187-91
Lauderdale, Kelli; Murphy, Thomas; Tung, Tina et al. (2015) Osmotic Edema Rapidly Increases Neuronal Excitability Through Activation of NMDA Receptor-Dependent Slow Inward Currents in Juvenile and Adult Hippocampus. ASN Neuro 7:
Hubbard, Jacqueline A; Hsu, Mike S; Seldin, Marcus M et al. (2015) Expression of the Astrocyte Water Channel Aquaporin-4 in the Mouse Brain. ASN Neuro 7: