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Publication

An Optical Neuron-Astrocyte Proximity Assay at Synaptic Distance Scales.

Neuron | 2018

Astrocytes are complex bushy cells that serve important functions through close contacts between their processes and synapses. However, the spatial interactions and dynamics of astrocyte processes relative to synapses have proven problematic to study in adult living brain tissue. Here, we report a genetically targeted neuron-astrocyte proximity assay (NAPA) to measure astrocyte-synapse spatial interactions within intact brain preparations and at synaptic distance scales. The method exploits resonance energy transfer between extracellularly displayed fluorescent proteins targeted to synapses and astrocyte processes. We validated the method in the striatal microcircuitry following in vivo expression. We determined the proximity of striatal astrocyte processes to distinct neuronal input pathways, to D1 and D2 medium spiny neuron synapses, and we evaluated how astrocyte-to-excitatory synapse proximity changed following cortical afferent stimulation, during ischemia and in a model of Huntington's disease. NAPA provides a simple approach to measure astrocyte-synapse spatial interactions in a variety of experimental scenarios. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Pubmed ID: 29621490 RIS Download

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Associated grants

Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
Id: T32 NS058280
Agency: NIMH NIH HHS, United States
Id: R01 MH099559
Agency: NIMH NIH HHS, United States
Id: F30 MH106197
Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
Id: R01 NS060677
Agency: NIMH NIH HHS, United States
Id: DP1 MH104069
Agency: NIMH NIH HHS, United States
Id: F31 MH107210

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Imaris (tool)

RRID:SCR_007370

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