# Functional plasticity of astrocyte syncytial network

> **NIH NIH R01** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $83,907

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Astrocytes are key players in regulating neuronal excitability and neurotransmission. We have recently shown
that astrocytes participate in brain functions thrugh “team-work”. Specifically, a strong gap junction coupling,
astrocytes achieve a state of syncytial isopotentiality across the brain that is crucial for potassium homeostasis.
Now our new studies further show that acute disruption of syncytial isopotentiality impairs neuronal excitability
nad synaptic transmision. However, our understanding is still in its infancy with respect to how the syncytial
isopotentiality is established and dynamically regulated through crosstalk with neuronal signals. To begin to
gain insight into this system-wide electrical feature of the astrocyte network, the objective of this proposal will
be mostly focused on how neuronal signalings regulate syncytial isopotentiality.
Our new studies show that intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) is a key regulator of the electrical coupling of astrocyte
syncytium. Also through regulating [Ca2+]i, glutamate potentiates electrical coupling of astrocyte syncytial
coupling. At the basal physiological level, norepinephrine signaling is indicated to bidirectionally regulate the
set point strength of astrocyte coupling through Gq-coupled α1-adrenergic receptors (α1-AR). Thus, we
hypothesize that neuronal norepinephrine signaling establishes the set point of syncytial coupling, whereas
glutamatergic signaling induces a novel form of glioplasity for potentiation of astrocyte syncytial coupling.
Our first specific aim will establish the role of [Ca2+]i in bidirectionally regulating the electrical coupling of
astrocyte syncytium. The electrophysiology and chemogentics with astrocytic expression of Gq-DREADD will
be used in these studies. The second aim will determine the mechanism underlying a glutamatergic signaling-
induced potentiation of syncytial coupling. Hippocampal CA3→CA1 glutamatergic transmission will be
activated in wildtype and conditional Cx43 knockout (hGfap-Cre:Cx43flox/flox) mice to validate that this glial
network plasticity is mediated through Cx43 in an [Ca2+]i-dependent fashion. The third aim will determine the
role of norepinephrine signaling in establishing a set point strength of astrocyte syncytial coupling. This
hypothesis will be examined through pharmacologial and genetic manipulation of astrocytic α1-AR.
The completion of this project is expected to validate the view that astrocyte syncytium indeed interacts as a
functional system with neuronal signaling. We expect to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying the
regulation of the basic and plasticity of astrocyte syncytial coupling. Ultimately, these results are expected to
shed light on a new research direction, in which the mysterious function of astrocytes can be explored at a
biologically higher hierarchy, the level of the syncytial system. This work in healthy CNS lays the foundation for
exploring how alteration of astrocyte syncytium etiological...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10147985
- **Project number:** 3R01NS116059-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MIN ZHOU
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $83,907
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2021-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10147985

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10147985, Functional plasticity of astrocyte syncytial network (3R01NS116059-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10147985. Licensed CC0.

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