Layer-specific morphological and molecular differences in neocortical astrocytes and their dependence on neuronal layers

Darin Lanjakornsiripan, Baek-Jun Pior, Daichi Kawaguchi, Shohei Furutachi (), Tomoaki Tahara, Yu Katsuyama, Yutaka Suzuki, Yugo Fukazawa and Yukiko Gotoh ()
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Darin Lanjakornsiripan: The University of Tokyo
Baek-Jun Pior: The University of Tokyo
Daichi Kawaguchi: The University of Tokyo
Shohei Furutachi: The University of Tokyo
Tomoaki Tahara: The University of Tokyo
Yu Katsuyama: Shiga University of Medical Science
Yutaka Suzuki: The University of Tokyo
Yugo Fukazawa: University of Fukui
Yukiko Gotoh: The University of Tokyo

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Non-pial neocortical astrocytes have historically been thought to comprise largely a nondiverse population of protoplasmic astrocytes. Here we show that astrocytes of the mouse somatosensory cortex manifest layer-specific morphological and molecular differences. Two- and three-dimensional observations revealed that astrocytes in the different layers possess distinct morphologies as reflected by differences in cell orientation, territorial volume, and arborization. The extent of ensheathment of synaptic clefts by astrocytes in layer II/III was greater than that by those in layer VI. Moreover, differences in gene expression were observed between upper-layer and deep-layer astrocytes. Importantly, layer-specific differences in astrocyte properties were abrogated in reeler and Dab1 conditional knockout mice, in which neuronal layers are disturbed, suggesting that neuronal layers are a prerequisite for the observed morphological and molecular differences of neocortical astrocytes. This study thus demonstrates the existence of layer-specific interactions between neurons and astrocytes, which may underlie their layer-specific functions.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03940-3

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