title: The structural and functional evidence for vesicular release from astrocytes in situ.
abstract: The concept of the tripartite synapse states that bi-directional signalling between perisynaptic astrocyte processes, presynaptic axonal boutons and postsynaptic neuronal structures defines the properties of synaptic information processing. Ca2+-dependent vesicular release from astrocytes, as one of the mechanisms of astrocyte-neuron communication, has attracted particular attention but has also been the subject of intense debate. In neurons, regulated vesicular release is a strongly coordinated process. It requires a complex release machinery comprised of many individual components ranging from vesicular neurotransmitter transporters and soluble NSF attachment protein receptors (SNARE) proteins to Ca2+-sensors and the proteins that spatially and temporally control exocytosis of synaptic vesicles. If astrocytes employ similar mechanisms to release neurotransmitters is less well understood. The aim of this review is therefore to discuss recent experimental evidence that sheds light on the central structural components responsible for vesicular release from astrocytes in situ.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: kirsten.bohmbach@ukbonn.de.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bohmbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuropathology, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schoch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany; Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: christian.henneberger@uni-bonn.de.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henneberger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism*
keywords: Astrocytes; SNARE proteins; Transmitter release; Vesicular release