A novel method has been developed for the preparation of nearly pure separate cultures of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes . The method is based on (a) the absence of viable neurons in cultures prepared from postnatal rat cerebra, (b) the stratification of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in culture, and (c) the selective detachment of the overlying oligodendrocytes when exposed to sheer forces generated by shaking the cultures on an orbital shaker for 15-18 h at 37°C. Preparations appear >98% pure and contain -1-2 x 10' viable cells (20-40 mg of cell protein). Three methods were used to characterize these two culture types. First, electron microscopic examination was used to identify the cells in each preparation (mixed and separated cultures of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) and to assess the purity of each preparation. Second, two oligodendroglial cell markers, 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (EC 3 .1 .4.37) and glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1 .1 .1 .8) were monitored. Third, the regulation of cyclic AMP accumulation in each culture type was examined. In addition to these studies, we examined the influence of brain extract and dibutyryl cAMP on the gross morphology and ultrastructure of each preparation. These agents induced astroglial process formation without any apparent morphological effect on oligodendrocytes. Collectively, the results indicate that essentially pure cultures of astrocytes and of oligodendrocytes can be prepared and maintained . These preparations should significantly aid in efforts to examine the biochemistry, physiology, and pharmacology of these two major classes of central nervous system cells.The cellular heterogeneity of the central nervous system has largely prevented investigators from describing the biochemical characteristics of welldefined cell populations within this system . To circumvent this problem, we and others have directed our efforts toward developing new tech-890 niques that could be used to prepare homogeneous populations of neurons, oligodendrocytes, or astrocytes (1,4,7,13,15,20,25). The separation of cells in primary culture has a number of advantages over other methods often used to purify brain cells (20) . As a result, we have concentrated J . CELL BIOLOGY

To investigate the role of astrocytes in regulating synaptic transmission, we generated inducible transgenic mice that express a dominant-negative SNARE domain selectively in astrocytes to block the release of transmitters from these glial cells. By releasing adenosine triphosphate, which accumulates as adenosine, astrocytes tonically suppressed synaptic transmission, thereby enhancing the dynamic range for long-term potentiation and mediated activity-dependent, heterosynaptic depression. These results indicate that astrocytes are intricately linked in the regulation of synaptic strength and plasticity and provide a pathway for synaptic cross-talk.

During neuronal activity, extracellular potassium concentration ([Kϩ] out ) becomes elevated and, if uncorrected, causes neuronal depolarization, hyperexcitability, and seizures. Clearance of K ϩ from the extracellular space, termed K ϩ spatial buffering, is considered to be an important function of astrocytes. Results from a number of studies suggest that maintenance of [K ϩ ] out by astrocytes is mediated by K ϩ uptake through the inward-rectifying K ir 4.1 channels. To study the role of this channel in astrocyte physiology and neuronal excitability, we generated a conditional knock-out (cKO) of K ir 4.1 directed to astrocytes via the human glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter gfa2. K ir 4.1 cKO mice die prematurely and display severe ataxia and stress-induced seizures. Electrophysiological recordings revealed severe depolarization of both passive astrocytes and complex glia in K ir 4.1 cKO hippocampal slices. Complex cell depolarization appears to be a direct consequence of K ir 4.1 removal, whereas passive astrocyte depolarization seems to arise from an indirect developmental process. Furthermore, we observed a significant loss of complex glia, suggestive of a role for K ir 4.1 in astrocyte development. K ir 4.1 cKO passive astrocytes displayed a marked impairment of both K ϩ and glutamate uptake. Surprisingly, membrane and action potential properties of CA1 pyramidal neurons, as well as basal synaptic transmission in the CA1 stratum radiatum appeared unaffected, whereas spontaneous neuronal activity was reduced in the K ir 4.1 cKO. However, high-frequency stimulation revealed greatly elevated posttetanic potentiation and short-term potentiation in K ir 4.1 cKO hippocampus. Our findings implicate a role for glial K ir 4.1 channel subunit in the modulation of synaptic strength.

A long-standing question in neurobiology is whether astrocytes respond to the neuronal release of neurotransmitters in vivo. To address this question, acutely isolated hippocampal slices were loaded with the calcium-sensitive dye Calcium Green-1 and the responses of the astrocytes to electrical stimulation of the Schaffer collaterals were monitored by confocal microscopy. To confirm that the responsive cells were astrocytes, the slices were immunostained for the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein. Stimulation of the Schaffer collaterals (50 Hz, 2 sec) resulted in increases in the concentration of intracellular calcium ([Ca 2ϩ ] i ) in the astrocytes located in the stratum radiatum of CA1. The astrocytic responses were blocked by the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin, the voltage-dependent calcium channel blocker -conotoxin-MVIIC, and the selective metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist ␣-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG). These results suggest that the astrocytic responses were induced by stimulation of metabotropic glutamate receptors on the astrocytes by neuronally released glutamate. The astrocytic responses to neuronal stimulation were enhanced in the presence of the K ϩ channel antagonist 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Inhibition of the astrocytic responses in the presence of 4-AP required the presence of both MCPG and the ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenic acid. These results suggest that higher levels of neuronal activity result in stimulation of both metabotropic and ionotropic glutamate receptors on the astrocytes. Overall, the results indicate that hippocampal astrocytes in situ are able to respond to the neuronal release of the neurotransmitter glutamate with increases in [Ca 2ϩ ] i .