Figure 5.

NBCe1 activity is responsible for acidification-induced [Ca²⁺]_i responses in chemosensitive brainstem astrocytes. a, b, Representative examples of [Ca²⁺]_i responses to CO₂-induced acidification (decreases in pH from 7.4 to 7.0 induced by an increase in [CO₂] from 2 to 5% in aCSF containing 10 mm HCO₃⁻) in cultured brainstem astrocytes of wild-type (WT) and NBCe1 knock-out (NBCe1-KO) mice. Each plot illustrates responses of six individual astrocytes. c, Summary data illustrating frequency of fast Ca²⁺ oscillations recorded in cultured astrocytes of WT and NBCe1-KO mice at resting conditions, pH 7.4, and during two chemosensory challenges, pH 7.0. d, Summary data illustrating peak amplitudes of [Ca²⁺]_i responses induced by application of ATP in cultured astrocytes of WT and NBCe1-KO mice.