GLIA: listening and talking to the synapse.
Glial cells are emerging from the background to become more prominent in our thinking about integration in the nervous system. Given that glial cells associated with synapses integrate neuronal inputs and can release transmitters that modulate synaptic activity, it is time to rethink our understanding of the wiring diagram of the nervous system. It is no longer appropriate to consider solely neuron-neuron connections; we also need to develop a view of the intricate web of active connections among glial cells, and between glia and neurons. Without such a view, it might be impossible to decode the language of the brain.
Department of Zoology and Genetics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA. pghaydon@iastate.edu
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D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
D018698:Glutamic Acid; D002118:Calcium