In vivo imaging of astrocytic glutamate dynamics in the brain

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18984
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General pharmacology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: TAKIKAWA Kenji 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科(医学部), 客員研究員 (60749274)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: グルタミン酸 / イメージング / in vivo / グリア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In vivo analysis of spatiotemporal dynamics of glutamate released from astrocytes in the brain provides an essential information for understanding of astrocyte-mediated synaptic plasticity. For visualizing glutamate dynamics in the vicinity of synapses in the living mouse brain, we aimed to develop an in vivo glutamate imaging system. We first generated a novel optical glutamate sensor, EOS, engineered by position-specific labeling of glutamate-binding protein with a small-molecular fluorescent dye. We then developed methods for specific EOS labeling of neuronal surfaces including synapses. By combining these techniques, we successfully visualized glutamate dynamics around the synapses in vivo in the living mouse cerebral cortex during astrocyte activation. Our in vivo glutamate imaging system should shed light on astrocyte-mediated synaptic plasticity.

Free Research Field

薬理学