title: Pharmacological Tools to Study the Role of Astrocytes in Neural Network Functions.
abstract: Despite that astrocytes and microglia do not communicate by electrical impulses, they can efficiently communicate among them, with each other and with neurons, to participate in complex neural functions requiring broad cell-communication and long-lasting regulation of brain function. Glial cells express many receptors in common with neurons; secrete gliotransmitters as well as neurotrophic and neuroinflammatory factors, which allow them to modulate synaptic transmission and neural excitability. All these properties allow glial cells to influence the activity of neuronal networks. Thus, the incorporation of glial cell function into the understanding of nervous system dynamics will provide a more accurate view of brain function. Our current knowledge of glial cell biology is providing us with experimental tools to explore their participation in neural network modulation. In this chapter, we review some of the classical, as well as some recent, pharmacological tools developed for the study of astrocyte's influence in neural function. We also provide some examples of the use of these pharmacological agents to understand the role of astrocytes in neural network function and dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, Querétaro, 76230, Mexico. jfpena@unam.mx.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peña-Ortega
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, Querétaro, 76230, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ana Julia
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rivera-Angulo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, Querétaro, 76230, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jonathan Julio
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lorea-Hernández
mesh_terms: D000154:Aconitate Hydratase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002210:Caprylates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D002951:Citrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D005463:Fluoroacetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008717:Methionine Sulfoximine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: D002210:Caprylates; D002951:Citrates; D005463:Fluoroacetates; C459360:ONO2506; D009842:Oligopeptides; C462999:PAR-1-activating peptide; D008717:Methionine Sulfoximine; C007744:fluorocitrate; D000154:Aconitate Hydratase; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase
keywords: Aconitase; Astrocyte; Fluoroacetate; Fluorocitrate; Glutamine synthetase; Microglia