Cortical glial cells contain both ionotropic and
metabotropic glutamate receptors. Despite several efforts, a comprehensive analysis of the entire family of
glutamate receptors and their subunits present in glial cells is still missing. Here, we provide an overall picture of the gene expression of ionotropic (
AMPA,
kainate,
NMDA) and the main
metabotropic glutamate receptors in cortical glial cells isolated from GFAP/EGFP mice before and after focal
cerebral ischemia. Employing single-cell RT-qPCR, we detected the expression of genes encoding subunits of
glutamate receptors in GFAP/EGFP-positive (GFAP/EGFP(+)) glial cells in the cortex of young adult mice. Most of the analyzed cells expressed
mRNA for
glutamate receptor subunits, the expression of which, in most cases, even increased after ischemic injury. Data analyses disclosed several classes of GFAP/EGFP(+) glial cells with respect to
glutamate receptors and revealed in what manner their expression correlates with the expression of glial markers prior to and after
ischemia. Furthermore, we also examined the
protein expression and functional significance of
NMDA receptors in glial cells. Immunohistochemical analyses of all seven
NMDA receptor subunits provided direct evidence that the GluN3A subunit is present in GFAP/EGFP(+) glial cells and that its expression is increased after
ischemia. In situ and in vitro Ca(2+) imaging revealed that Ca(2+) elevations evoked by the application of
NMDA were diminished in GFAP/EGFP(+) glial cells following
ischemia. Our results provide a comprehensive description of
glutamate receptors in cortical GFAP/EGFP(+) glial cells and may serve as a basis for further research on glial cell physiology and pathophysiology.