Astrocyte and microglial control of glutamatergic signalling: a primer on understanding the disruptive role of chronic stress.
It is now well established that chronic stress can induce significant structural remodelling of astrocytes and microglia. Until recently, however, the full significance of these morphological disturbances has remained unclear. Clues to the significance of astroglial re-organisation following stress are beginning to emerge from a compelling literature describing how astrocytes contribute to glutamatergic neurotransmission. The present review briefly summarises these two fields of research, identifies points of overlap and, in doing so, pin-points future research directions for stress neurobiology. Ultimately, understanding how chronic stress can disrupt the interactions of astrocytes and microglia with neurones has the potential in the future to improve the development of therapeutics designed to treat stress-related illnesses such as depression.
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.|Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.
J
J
Mayhew
Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
P M
PM
Beart
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.|Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.
F R
FR
Walker
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017628:Microglia / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D018698:Glutamic Acid
Chronic stress; astrocyte; depression; glutamate; microglia; stress