Research progress on calcium activities in astrocyte microdomains.

Fu-Sheng DING; Si-Si YANG; Liang ZHENG; Dan MU; Zhu HUANG; Jian-Xiong ZHANG

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Research progress on calcium activities in astrocyte microdomains.

Author: Fu-Sheng DING ¹ ; Si-Si YANG ² ; Liang ZHENG ¹ ; Dan MU ¹ ; Zhu HUANG ¹ ; Jian-Xiong ZHANG ³
Author Information

1. Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Characteristic Resources Utilization in Southwest Anhui, School of Life Science, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, China.
2. Ophthalmology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
3. Brain Research Center, School of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
Publication Type:English Abstract
MeSH: Astrocytes/cytology*; Humans; Animals; Calcium/metabolism*; Calcium Signaling/physiology*; Brain/physiology*; Aging/physiology*; Membrane Microdomains/physiology*; Neurodegenerative Diseases/physiopathology*
From: Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(3):534-544
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Astrocytes are a crucial type of glial cells in the central nervous system, not only maintaining brain homeostasis, but also actively participating in the transmission of information within the brain. Astrocytes have a complex structure that includes the soma, various levels of processes, and end-feet. With the advancement of genetically encoded calcium indicators and imaging technologies, researchers have discovered numerous localized and small calcium activities in the fine processes and end-feet. These calcium activities were termed as microdomain calcium activities, which significantly differ from the calcium activities in the soma and can influence the activity of local neurons, synapses, and blood vessels. This article elaborates the detection and analysis, characteristics, sources, and functions of microdomain calcium activities, and discusses the impact of aging and neurodegenerative diseases on these activities, aiming to enhance the understanding of the role of astrocytes in the brain and to provide new insights for the treatment of brain disorders.