Components of glial responses to exogenous and synaptic glutamate in rat hippocampal microcultures

Although gila are known to be sensitive to exogenously applied neurotransmitter substances, little is known about how gila respond to neuronal activity on the millisecond time scale of individual synaptic events. We have explored the electrophysiological effects of excitatory neuronal signaling on glial cells in rat hippocampal microcultures. Exogenous applications of glutamate analogs to islands of gila revealed a large ionotropic AMPA receptor-mediated current and a smaller current mediated by electrogenic glutamate uptake. Glia demonstrated no evidence of NMDA or metabotropic receptor-mediated currents or membrane conductance changes. Despite the dominant contribution of AMPA receptors to exogenous glutamate applications in gila, AMPA receptor currents contributed only ~20% to the response of glia to endogenous glutamate release from solitary excitatory neurons. Electrogenic glutamate uptake contributed strongly to glial responses to neuronal stimulation. In addition, some gila exhibited a residual current in response to neuronal stimulation that was not attributable to calcium-dependent transmitter release or to neuronal potassium efflux. These results help provide a context for understanding the role of glial transporters and receptors in nervous system signaling.