Table 2. A list of previous studies using chemogenetics to manipulate astrocytes.
| Effector | Expression | Promoter | Genetic tool | Delivery | Stimulation | Released gliotransmitter | Response (nearby neurons) | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response (effector+ cells) | Response (animals) | ||||||||
| MrgprA1 | Hippocampal slices | GFAP | tTA/tetO | TG mice | [Ca2+]i↑ | n.d. | n.d. | No response in CA1 pyramidal neurons | Ref. 42 |
| MrgprA1 | Hippocampal slices | GFAP | tTA/tetO | TG mice | sEPSC, [Ca2+]i↑ | n.d. | n.d. | No response in CA1 pyramidal neurons | Ref. 40 |
| hM3Dq | V1 (in vivo) | GFAP | Cre | AAV | [Ca2+]i↑ | No change in CBF | n.d. | n.d. | Ref. 41 |
| MrgprA1 | Primary astrocytes | GFAP | tTA/tetO | TG mice | [Ca2+]i↑ | ATP | n.d. | Ref. 138 | |
| Right cerebral ventricle, mPFC, hippocampus (in vivo) | GFAP | tTA/tetO | TG mice | ATP | |||||
| Ro1 | Whole animal (GFAP+ cells) | GFAP | tTA/tetO | TG mice | pERK↑ | Hydrocephalus | n.d. | n.d. | Ref. 139 |
| hM3Dq | Hippocampal slices | GFAP | None | TG mice | [Ca2+]i↑ | ||||
| Whole animal (GFAP+ cells) | GFAP | None | TG mice | Change in ANS-mediated responses and motor behaviors | n.d. | n.d. | Ref. 142 | ||
| hM3Dq | Intestine | GFAP | tTA/tetO | TG mice | [Ca2+]i↑ | Gut contraction ↑ | |||
| hM3Dq | Whole animal | GFAP | creERT2 | TG mice | n.d. | Hypothermia | n.d. | n.d. | Ref. 143 |
| Rs1 | Whole animal, primary astrocytes | GFAP | tTA/tetO | TG mice, lentivirus | cAMP↑, pERK↑, pCREB↑ | Memory function ↓ | n.d. n.d. |
n.d. n.d. |
Ref. 144 Ref. 145 |
| hM3Dq | Arcuate nucleus (in vivo) | GFAP | None | AAV | c-fos↑ | Ghrelin-evoked feeding ↓ Leptin-induced anorexia↑ |
Adenosine | ||
| Hypothalamic slices | GFAP | None | AAV | n.d. | Adenosine | n.d. Firing of AgRP+ neurons ↓ |
Ref. 147 Ref. 147 |
||
| hM4Di | Arcuate nucleus (in vivo) | GFAP | None | AAV | no change in c-fos | Ghrelin-evoked feeding ↑ Leptin-induced anorexia ↓ |
n.d. | n.d. | Ref. 147 |
| hM3Dq | Primary astrocytes | GFAP | None | AAV | [Ca2+]i↑ | n.d. | n.d. | Ref. 154 | |
| NAcore (in vivo) | GFAP | None | AAV | [Ca2+]i↑ | Ethanol seeking ↓ Intracranial self-stimulation ↑ |
||||
| hM3Dq | NAcore (in vivo) | GFAP | None | AAV | n.d. | Cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking ↓ | Glutamate | n.d. | Ref. 155 |
AAV, adeno-associated virus; ANS, autonomic nervous system; AgRP, agouti-related protein; CA1, cornu ammonis area 1; CBF, cerebral blood flow; cAMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate; pCREB, phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein; creERT2, tamoxifen-inducible cre; sEPSC, spontaneous excitatory synaptic transmission; pERK, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase; GFAP, glial acidic fibrillary acidic protein; mPFC, medial prefrontal cortex; MrgprA1, mas-related G protein-coupled receptor A1; NAcore, nucleus accumbens core; tTA, tetracycline-controlled transcriptional activator; tetO, tTA-responsive promoter sequence; TG, transgenic; V1, primary visual cortex; n.d., not determined.