DNF seminar
Abstract: Astrocytes are being recognized as playing important modulatory roles in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness. In this lecture I will present evidence how wakefulness signals through nicotinic receptors to modulate the levels of D-serine, the co-agonist of synaptic NMDA receptors, and the consequences of this modulation for animal behavior. In addition we have recently learned that astrocytes play a distinct role in the control of wakefulness by modulating the activity of orexinergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus. Astrocytes deliver lactate to these neurons which is essential for the neuronal production of pyruvate which in turn modulates the activity of neuronal K+ channels. In the absence of lactate delivery, neurons hyperpolarize, due to activation of the K channels, and animals exhibit a narcoleptic-like phenotype.