Glial control of synaptogenesis.
Though all communication between neurons occurs through synapses, we know surprisingly little about the mechanisms inducing their formation. In this issue of Cell, Barres and colleagues (Christopherson et al., 2005) demonstrate that glial-derived thrombospondins and additional soluble glial-secreted factors regulate synapse assembly and functional maturation.
Freeman
Marc R
MR
Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA.
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development*; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D019699:Thrombospondins / Q000378:metabolism*
D019699:Thrombospondins