What is it about?
Our study shows that astrocytes can increase brain blood flow using an intracellular signaling molecule called cAMP, independent of calcium. This reveals a new pathway the brain uses to fine-tune its blood supply during different levels of activity and maintain healthy function.
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Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This work reveals a previously overlooked way the brain controls blood flow. We show that astrocytes can widen nearby vessels using cAMP, independently of calcium. This challenges long-held views and offers a fresh path for understanding blood-flow problems in brain disease.
Perspectives
I hope this work inspires colleagues studying cerebral blood-flow regulation to consider adding cAMP recordings to their astrocytic calcium studies, so we can build a more complete picture together.
Marta Vittani
University of Copenhagen
Our work demonstrates cAMP as a key functional signal in astrocyte–vascular coupling. Jointly examining cAMP and Ca²⁺, two cardinal second messengers of GPCR signaling, is expected to deepen our understanding of astrocytic contributions to brain function in vivo.
Dr. Hajime Hirase
University of Copenhagen
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Cerebral blood flow is modulated by astrocytic cAMP elevation independently of IP
3
R2-mediated Ca
2+
signaling in mice, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, July 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2422069122.
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