title: Astrocytes and brain function: implications for reproduction.
abstract: Recent evidence suggests that astrocytes have important neuroregulatory functions in addition to their classic functions of support and segregation of neurons. These newly revealed functions include regulation of neuron communication, neurosecretion, and synaptic plasticity. Although these actions occur throughout the brain, this review will focus on astrocyte-neuron interactions in the hypothalamus, particularly with respect to their potential contribution to the regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion and reproduction. Hypothalamic astrocytes have been documented to release a variety of neuroactive factors, including transforming growth factors-alpha and -beta, insulin-like growth factor-1, prostaglandin E2, and the neurosteroid, 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnane-20-one. Each of these factors has been shown to stimulate GnRH release, and receptors for each factor have been documented on GnRH neurons. Astrocytes have also been implicated in the regulation of synaptic plasticity in key areas of the hypothalamus that control GnRH release, an effect achieved by extension and retraction of glial processes (i.e., glial ensheathment). Through this mechanism, the number of synapses on GnRH neurons and GnRH regulatory neurons can potentially be modulated, thereby influencing the activation state of GnRH neurons. The steroid hormone 17beta-estradiol, which triggers the GnRH and luteinizing hormone surge, has been shown to induce the astrocyte-regulated changes in hypothalamic synaptic plasticity, as well as enhance formation and release of the astrocyte neuroactive factors, thereby providing another potential mechanistic layer for astrocyte regulation of GnRH release. As a whole, these studies provide new insights into the diversity of astrocytes and their potential role in reproductive neuroendocrine function.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Program in Neurobiology, and Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA.
authors.forename: Krishnan M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Dhandapani
authors.forename: Virendra B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Mahesh
authors.forename: Darrell W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Brann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone