Figure 1.

Aβ causes transient calcium signals, transient mitochondrial depolarizations, and a slow progressive loss of mitochondrial potential in mouse astrocytes. A culture of hippocampal cortical astrocytes was co-loaded with fura-2 (AM ester, 5 μM for 20 min) and with rhodamine 123 (100 μM for 15 min followed by washing). Application of Aβ 1–42 (2 μM) as indicated initiated transient calcium responses and also transient mitochondrial depolarizations which were superimposed on a slow progressive loss of mitochondrial potential. (a) Signals from many cells are superimposed. (b) Signals from just two cells are extracted so that individual cellular responses can be seen more clearly. These cellular responses in mouse astrocytes were not notably different from those we have described in cells from the rat (n=67 cells).