Motor-Skill Learning Is Dependent on Astrocytic Activity
Motor-skill learning induces changes in synaptic structure and function in the primary motor cortex through the involvement of a long-term potentiation- (LTP-) like mechanism. Although there is evidence that calcium-dependent release of gliotransmitters by astrocytes plays an important role in synap...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Neural Plasticity |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/938023 |
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| _version_ | 1832563649332379648 |
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| author | Ragunathan Padmashri Anand Suresh Michael D. Boska Anna Dunaevsky |
| author_facet | Ragunathan Padmashri Anand Suresh Michael D. Boska Anna Dunaevsky |
| author_sort | Ragunathan Padmashri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Motor-skill learning induces changes in synaptic structure and function in the primary motor cortex through the involvement of a long-term potentiation- (LTP-) like mechanism. Although there is evidence that calcium-dependent release of gliotransmitters by astrocytes plays an important role in synaptic transmission and plasticity, the role of astrocytes in motor-skill learning is not known. To test the hypothesis that astrocytic activity is necessary for motor-skill learning, we perturbed astrocytic function using pharmacological and genetic approaches. We find that perturbation of astrocytes either by selectively attenuating IP3R2 mediated astrocyte Ca2+ signaling or using an astrocyte specific metabolic inhibitor fluorocitrate (FC) results in impaired motor-skill learning of a forelimb reaching-task in mice. Moreover, the learning impairment caused by blocking astrocytic activity using FC was rescued by administration of the gliotransmitter D-serine. The learning impairments are likely caused by impaired LTP as FC blocked LTP in slices and prevented motor-skill training-induced increases in synaptic AMPA-type glutamate receptor in vivo. These results support the conclusion that normal astrocytic Ca2+ signaling during a reaching task is necessary for motor-skill learning. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-986ac879892e422cbb47960e9d4bc2db |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-5904 1687-5443 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Neural Plasticity |
| spelling | doaj-art-986ac879892e422cbb47960e9d4bc2db2025-02-03T01:12:58ZengWileyNeural Plasticity2090-59041687-54432015-01-01201510.1155/2015/938023938023Motor-Skill Learning Is Dependent on Astrocytic ActivityRagunathan Padmashri0Anand Suresh1Michael D. Boska2Anna Dunaevsky3Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USADepartment of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USADepartment of Radiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USADepartment of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USAMotor-skill learning induces changes in synaptic structure and function in the primary motor cortex through the involvement of a long-term potentiation- (LTP-) like mechanism. Although there is evidence that calcium-dependent release of gliotransmitters by astrocytes plays an important role in synaptic transmission and plasticity, the role of astrocytes in motor-skill learning is not known. To test the hypothesis that astrocytic activity is necessary for motor-skill learning, we perturbed astrocytic function using pharmacological and genetic approaches. We find that perturbation of astrocytes either by selectively attenuating IP3R2 mediated astrocyte Ca2+ signaling or using an astrocyte specific metabolic inhibitor fluorocitrate (FC) results in impaired motor-skill learning of a forelimb reaching-task in mice. Moreover, the learning impairment caused by blocking astrocytic activity using FC was rescued by administration of the gliotransmitter D-serine. The learning impairments are likely caused by impaired LTP as FC blocked LTP in slices and prevented motor-skill training-induced increases in synaptic AMPA-type glutamate receptor in vivo. These results support the conclusion that normal astrocytic Ca2+ signaling during a reaching task is necessary for motor-skill learning.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/938023 |
| spellingShingle | Ragunathan Padmashri Anand Suresh Michael D. Boska Anna Dunaevsky Motor-Skill Learning Is Dependent on Astrocytic Activity Neural Plasticity |
| title | Motor-Skill Learning Is Dependent on Astrocytic Activity |
| title_full | Motor-Skill Learning Is Dependent on Astrocytic Activity |
| title_fullStr | Motor-Skill Learning Is Dependent on Astrocytic Activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Motor-Skill Learning Is Dependent on Astrocytic Activity |
| title_short | Motor-Skill Learning Is Dependent on Astrocytic Activity |
| title_sort | motor skill learning is dependent on astrocytic activity |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/938023 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ragunathanpadmashri motorskilllearningisdependentonastrocyticactivity AT anandsuresh motorskilllearningisdependentonastrocyticactivity AT michaeldboska motorskilllearningisdependentonastrocyticactivity AT annadunaevsky motorskilllearningisdependentonastrocyticactivity |