title: Glial Regulation of the Neuronal Connectome through Local and Long-Distant Communication.
abstract: If "the connectome" represents a complete map of anatomical and functional connectivity in the brain, it should also include glia. Glia define and regulate both the brain's anatomical and functional connectivity over a broad range of length scales, spanning the whole brain to subcellular domains of synaptic interactions. This Perspective article examines glial interactions with the neuronal connectome (including long-range networks, local circuits, and individual synaptic connections) and highlights opportunities for future research. Our understanding of the structure and function of the neuronal connectome would be incomplete without an understanding of how all types of glia contribute to neuronal connectivity and function, from single synapses to circuits.
authors.affiliation: Nervous System Development and Plasticity Section, The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Electronic address: fieldsd@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: R Douglas
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.affiliation: Nervous System Development and Plasticity Section, The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Dong Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: Section on Tissue Biophysics and Biomimetics, Program on Pediatric Imaging and Tissue Sciences, The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Basser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D063132:Connectome; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000502:physiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*