Glutamate receptors in astrocytic end-feet.
Glial cells in the mammalian central nervous system, like neurons, possess glutamate receptors suggesting that neuronal-glial communication via neurotransmitters is an important component of brain function. In the bovine corpus callosum, GLUR-1, an alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4 isoxazolepropionate (AMPA)/kainate receptor subtype, is a major type of glutamate receptor. It is distributed along astrocytic processes and it is particularly abundant in the end-feet and the glial fibers surrounding the capillaries. This close spatial relationship between GLUR-1 receptors in astrocytes and endothelial cells suggests that these receptors may be activated by glutamate transported across the blood-brain barrier and thus regulate the barrier itself by ensuing astrocyte-endothelial cell interactions.
Matute
C
C
Departmento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País Vasco, Leioa, Spain.
Gutiérrez-Igarza
K
K
Río
C
C
Miledi
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000187:drug effects; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism*
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate