The expression of TRPV4 is markedly enhanced in adult rat hippocampal astrocytes of the CA1 region after hypoxia/ischemia coinciding with the development of astrogliosis. This was revealed by immunohistochemical analyses, patch-clamp and calcium imaging measurements both in vitro and in situ.
Collectively, we show that TRPV4 channels are involved in ischemia induced calcium entry in reactive astrocytes and thus, might participate in the pathogenic mechanisms of astroglial reactivity following ischemic insult.