Author/Editor		Popov, Alexander; Brazhe, Alexey; Denisov, Pavel; Sutyagina, Oksana; Lazareva, Natalia; Verkhratsky, Alexei; Semyanov, Alexey
Title		Astrocyte dystrophy in ageing brain parallels impaired synaptic plasticity
Type		članek
Vol. and No.		Letnik 20, št. 3
Publication year		2021
Volume		str. 1-14
ISSN		1474-9726 - Aging cell
Language		eng
Abstract		Little is known about age-dependent changes in structure and function of astrocytes and of the impact of these on the cognitive decline in the senescent brain. The prevalent view on the age-dependent increase in reactive astrogliosis and astrocytic hypertrophy requires scrutiny and detailed analysis. Using two-photon microscopy in conjunction with 3D reconstruction, Sholl and volume fraction analysis, we demonstrate a significant reduction in the number and the length of astrocytic processes, in astrocytic territorial domains and in astrocyte-to-astrocyte coupling in the aged brain. Probing physiology of astrocytes with patch clamp, and Ca2+ imaging revealed deficits in K+ and glutamate clearance and spatiotemporal reorganisation of Ca2+ events in old astrocytes. These changes paralleled impaired synaptic long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal CA1 in old mice. Our findings may explain the astroglial mechanisms of age-dependent decline in learning and memory.
Keywords		astrociti perisinaptični astrocitni procesi staranje astrocytes perisynaptic astrocytic processes ageing