Roles for gliotransmission in the nervous system.
Astrocytes were long referred to as passive cells in the central nervous system (CNS). However, the application of fluorescent Ca2+ indicators revealed their "Ca2+ excitability" in response to a variety of stimuli. Since then, evidence showing that astrocytes release chemical transmitters and can modulate synapses has led to a new integrative view of the astrocyte. While it is inarguable that astrocytes play essential roles in nervous system function, and that gliotransmission modulates synapses, a significant challenge lies in developing the appropriate experimental strategy to allow unequivocal identification of roles for gliotransmission in nervous system function.
Zhang
Q
Q
Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Haydon
P G
PG
D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*