Astrocyte responses to neuronal activity

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Item Type:	Article
Title:	Astrocyte responses to neuronal activity
Creators Name:	Schipke, C.G. and Kettenmann, H.
Abstract:	During the past few years, it has been established that astrocytes sense neuronal activity and are involved in signal transmission. Neuronal stimulation triggered electrophysiological and/or Ca2+ responses in astrocyte cultures and in acute brain slices. Present even within one given brain region, different pathways of neuron-to-astrocyte communication involving different receptor systems have been described. These mechanisms include glutamatergic and NO-mediated signaling. Neuron-to-astrocyte signaling can be confined to subcellular compartments, the microdomains, or it can activate the entire cell. It can even trigger a multicellular response in astrocytes, a Ca2+ wave. This form of astrocyte long-range signal propagation can occur independently, in pure astrocyte cultures, but it can also be triggered by neuronal activity. Astrocytes also exhibit spontaneous Ca2+ activity. Neuronal activity in acute brain slices can organize this activity into complex synchronous networks. One of the functional consequences of neuron-to-astrocyte signaling might be the neuronal control of microcirculation using astrocytes as a mediator.
Keywords:	Astrocyte, Neuron-Glia Communication, Review, Glutamate Receptor, Animals
Source:	Glia
ISSN:	0894-1491
Publisher:	Wiley
Volume:	47
Number:	3
Page Range:	226-232
Date:	15 August 2004
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.20029
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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