(A-B) Subcellular photoactivation of SNAP-mGluR2–5 with 2xBGAG12 in cultured astrocytes produces reliable calcium oscillations and allows for the visualization of subcellular calcium waves. Photoactivation occurred only at the purple circle in either the soma (A) or a process (B) . Inset highlights that, in this representative cell, calcium oscillations occur at the site of photoactivation, but not in distal sites.
(C) Bar graphs shows the range of calcium responses, organized by site of photoactivation and measurement. The number of cells measured are shown inscribed in each bar. A higher proportion of cells showed oscillations in response to photoactivation in processes versus the soma. * indicates statistical significance (comparison between distributions of bar graphs; Pearson’s Chi-Square Test, p=0.037).
(D) Calcium oscillation frequencies in response to photoactivation in the processes versus the soma. Lines connect values measured in the same cell with photoactivation in either location. * indicates statistical significance (paired t-test, p=0.017).
(E) Schematic showing the properties of calcium oscillations induced by photoactivation in the soma versus a process.