Sensory-evoked intrinsic optical signals in the olfactory bulb are coupled to glutamate release and uptake

Neuron. 2006 Oct 19;52(2):335-45. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.07.022.

Abstract

Functional imaging signals arise from metabolic and hemodynamic activity, but how these processes are related to the synaptic and electrical activity of neurons is not well understood. To provide insight into this issue, we used in vivo imaging and simultaneous local pharmacology to study how sensory-evoked neural activity leads to intrinsic optical signals (IOS) in the well-defined circuitry of the olfactory glomerulus. Odor-evoked IOS were tightly coupled to release of glutamate and were strongly modulated by activation of presynaptic dopamine and GABA-B receptors. Surprisingly, IOS were independent of postsynaptic transmission through ionotropic or metabotropic glutamate receptors, but instead were inhibited when uptake by astrocytic glutamate transporters was blocked. These data suggest that presynaptic glutamate release and uptake by astrocytes form a critical pathway through which neural activity is linked to metabolic processing and hence to functional imaging signals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / drug effects
  • Astrocytes / metabolism*
  • Cell Communication / physiology*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1 / metabolism
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 / metabolism*
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism*
  • Light
  • Models, Neurological
  • Olfactory Bulb / metabolism*
  • Optics and Photonics
  • Presynaptic Terminals / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Long-Evans
  • Receptors, Dopamine / metabolism
  • Receptors, GABA-B / metabolism
  • Receptors, Glutamate / metabolism
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2
  • Receptors, Dopamine
  • Receptors, GABA-B
  • Receptors, Glutamate
  • Slc1a3 protein, rat
  • Glutamic Acid
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Dopamine