Motor-Skill Learning Is Dependent on Astrocytic Activity

Figure 1

IP₃R2 mediated Ca²⁺ signaling is necessary for motor-skill learning. a(i) Dual loading of acute M1 slices with SR101 (left) and fluo-4 AM (right) in control (top panel) and mIP₃R2 (bottom panel) mice. ROIs of astrocyte soma are outlined and numbered. Time-lapse images of the fluo-4 channel for control and mIP₃R2 KO mice showing spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients in soma. Scale bar: 10 μm. (a′) Spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients in soma in control and mIP₃R2 mice. Scale bar: 50 s, 100% . a(ii) Quantification of the proportion of active cells with spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients in soma in control and mIP₃R2 slices. a(iii) Quantification of ATP-induced Ca²⁺ transients in control and mIP₃R2 slices. (b) Motor-skill learning curves for control and mIP₃R2 mice. mIP₃R2 mice show a deficit in motor-skill learning. Repeated measures two-way ANOVA revealed a significant interaction between genotype and training factors (). (c) Number of reaching attempts made on day 1 and day 5 in control and mIP₃R2 mice. (d) Relationship between ATP-induced Ca²⁺ transients and learning (success rate on day 4/success rate on day 1). , , and .