Calcium signaling in cerebral vasoregulation

Abstract

The tight coupling of regional neurometabolic activity with synaptic activity and regional cerebral blood perfusion constitutes a single functional unit, described generally as a neurovascular unit. This is central to any discussion of haemodynamic response linked to any neuronal activation. In normal as well as in pathologic conditions, neurons, astrocytes and endothelial cells of the vasculature interact to generate the complex activity-induced cerebral haemodynamic responses, with astrocytes not only partaking in the signaling but actually controlling it in many cases. Neurons and astrocytes have highly integrated signaling mechanisms, yet they form two separate networks. Bidirectional neuron-astrocyte interactions are crucial for the function and survival of the central nervous system. The primary purpose of such regulation is the homeostasis of the brain's microenvironment. In the maintenance of such homeostasis, astrocytic calcium response is a crucial variable in determining neurovascular control. Future work will be directed towards resolving the nature and extent of astrocytic calcium-mediated mechanisms for gene transcription, in modelling neurovascular control, and in determining calcium sensitive imaging assays that can capture disease variables. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.