Contribution of inwardly rectifying K+ channel 4.1 of supraoptic astrocytes to the regulation of vasopressin neuronal activity by hypotonicity

Astrocytic morphological plasticity and its modulation of adjacent neuronal activity are largely determined by astrocytic volume regulation, in which glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), aquaporin 4 (AQP4), and potassium channels including inwardly rectifying K+ channel 4.1 (Kir4.1) are essential. However, associations of astrocyte‐dominant Kir4.1 with other molecules in astrocytic volume regulation and the subsequent influence on neuronal activity remain unclear. Here, we report our study on these issues using primary cultures of rat pups' hypothalamic astrocytes and male adult rat brain slices. In astrocyte culture, hyposmotic challenge (HOC) significantly decreased GFAP monomer expression and astrocytic volume at 1.5 min and increased Kir4.1 expression and inwardly rectifying currents (IRCs) at 10 min. BaCl2 (100 μmol/l) suppressed the HOC‐increased IRCs, which was simulated by VU0134992 (2 μmol/l), a Kir4.1 blocker. Preincubation of the astrocyte culture with TGN‐020 (10 μmol/l, a specific AQP4 blocker) made the HOC‐increased Kir4.1 currents insignificant. In hypothalamic brain slices, HOC initially decreased and then increased the firing rate of vasopressin (VP) neurons in the supraoptic nucleus. In the presence of BaCl2 or VU0134992, HOC‐elicited rebound increase in VP neuronal activity was blocked. GFAP was molecularly associated with Kir4.1, which was increased by HOC at 20 min; this increase was blocked by BaCl2. These results suggest that HOC‐evoked astrocytic retraction or decrease in the volume and length of its processes is associated with increased Kir4.1 activity. Kir4.1 involvement in HOC‐elicited astrocytic retraction is associated with AQP4 activity and GFAP plasticity, which together determines the rebound excitation of VP neurons. Main Points Inwardly rectifying K+ channel 4.1 (Kir4.1) plays a key role in the regulatory volume decrease (RVD). RVD and its effect on the rebound activation of vasopressin neurons rely on the activity of Kir4.1. Kir4.1 activity depends on aquaporin 4 activity and associates with glial fibrillary acidic protein plasticity. Kir4.1 is a key target to regulate the activity of vasopressin neurons under hypotonicity.