Activation of β-Adrenergic Receptors Stimulates Release of an Inhibitory Transmitter from Astrocytes |
| |
Authors: | William Shain Vergine Madelian David L Martin Harold K Kimelberg Mark Perrone† Rhonda Lepore† |
| |
Institution: | Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, Albany;Division of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College, Albany;Sterling-Winthrop Research Institute, Rensselaer, New York, U.S.A. |
| |
Abstract: | Activation of beta-adrenergic receptors on astrocytes in primary cell culture results in the release of taurine, an inhibitory transmitter. Taurine release occurs via a cyclic AMP-mediated intracellular pathway, because (a) taurine release and intracellular cyclic AMP accumulation have similar pharmacologies and time courses of activation and (b) N6,O2'-dibutyryl cyclic AMP stimulates release with a time course similar to that observed with the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol. These results describe a previously unrecognized physiological function of astrocytes in the CNS-receptor-mediated release of the neuroactive amino acid taurine. This observation indicates that astrocytes may function as local regulators of neuronal activity. |
| |
Keywords: | Taurine release β-Adrenergic receptor Cyclic AMP Astrocytes |
|
|