title: Astrocytes as regulators of synaptic function: a quest for the Ca2+ master key.
abstract: The emerging role of astrocytes in neural communication represents a conceptual challenge. In striking contrast to the rapid and highly space- and time-constrained machinery of neuronal spike propagation and synaptic release, astroglia appear slow and imprecise. Although a large body of independent experiments documents active signal exchange between astrocytes and neurons, some genetic models have raised doubts about the major Ca2+ -dependent molecular mechanism routinely associated with release of "gliotransmitters." A limited understanding of astrocytic Ca2+ signaling and the imperfect compatibility between physiology and experimental manipulations seem to have contributed to this conceptual bottleneck. Experimental approaches providing mechanistic insights into the diverse mechanisms of intra-astrocyte Ca2+ signaling on the nanoscale are needed to understand Ca2+ -dependent astrocytic function in vivo. This review highlights limitations and potential advantages of such approaches from the current methodological perspective.
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK. d.rusakov@ion.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Dmitri A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rusakov
authors.forename: Kaiyu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henneberger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium