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Research progress on calcium activities in astrocyte microdomains

DING Fu-Sheng^1,2, YANG Si-Si³, ZHENG Liang^1,2, MU Dan¹, HUANG Zhu^1,2,*, ZHANG Jian-Xiong⁴

¹Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Characteristic Resources Utilization in Southwest Anhui, School of Life Science, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, China；²Collaborative Innovation Center of Targeted Development of Medicinal Resources, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, China；³Ophthalmology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China；⁴Brain Research Center, School of Basic Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China

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.

Key words: Astrocyte; microdomain; calcium activities

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 黄祝　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2025.0023

Citing This Article：

DING Fu-Sheng, YANG Si-Si, ZHENG Liang, MU Dan, HUANG Zhu, ZHANG Jian-Xiong. Research progress on calcium activities in astrocyte microdomains. Acta Physiol Sin 2025; 77 (3): 534-544 (in Chinese with English abstract).