Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Journal Year:
2017,
Volume and Issue:
372(1715), P. 20160154 - 20160154
Published: Jan. 17, 2017
Astrocytes
intimately
interact
with
synapses,
both
morphologically
and,
as
evidenced
in
the
past
20
years,
at
functional
level.
Ultrathin
astrocytic
processes
contact
and
sometimes
enwrap
synaptic
elements,
sense
transmission
shape
or
alter
signal
by
releasing
signalling
molecules.
Yet,
consequences
of
such
interactions
terms
information
processing
brain
remain
very
elusive.
This
is
largely
due
to
two
major
constraints:
(i)
exquisitely
complex,
dynamic
ultrathin
nature
distal
that
renders
their
investigation
highly
challenging
(ii)
our
lack
understanding
how
encoded
local
global
fluctuations
intracellular
calcium
concentrations
astrocytes.
Here,
we
will
review
existing
anatomical
evidence
between
astrocytes
it
underlies
a
role
for
computation
information.This
article
part
themed
issue
'Integrating
Hebbian
homeostatic
plasticity'.
Physiological Reviews,
Journal Year:
2017,
Volume and Issue:
98(1), P. 239 - 389
Published: Dec. 24, 2017
Astrocytes
are
neural
cells
of
ectodermal,
neuroepithelial
origin
that
provide
for
homeostasis
and
defense
the
central
nervous
system
(CNS).
highly
heterogeneous
in
morphological
appearance;
they
express
a
multitude
receptors,
channels,
membrane
transporters.
This
complement
underlies
their
remarkable
adaptive
plasticity
defines
functional
maintenance
CNS
development
aging.
tightly
integrated
into
networks
act
within
context
tissue;
astrocytes
control
at
all
levels
organization
from
molecular
to
whole
organ.
Annual Review of Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2019,
Volume and Issue:
42(1), P. 187 - 207
Published: July 8, 2019
Astrocytes
are
morphologically
complex,
ubiquitous
cells
that
viewed
as
a
homogeneous
population
tiling
the
entire
central
nervous
system
(CNS).
However,
this
view
has
been
challenged
in
last
few
years
with
availability
of
RNA
sequencing,
immunohistochemistry,
electron
microscopy,
morphological
reconstruction,
and
imaging
data.
These
studies
suggest
astrocytes
represent
diverse
they
display
brain
area–
disease–specific
properties
functions.
In
review,
we
summarize
these
observations,
emphasize
areas
where
clear
conclusions
can
be
made,
discuss
potential
unifying
themes.
We
also
identify
knowledge
gaps
need
to
addressed
order
exploit
astrocyte
diversity
biological
phenomenon
physiological
relevance
CNS.
thus
provide
summary
perspective
on
vertebrate
Neuron,
Journal Year:
2017,
Volume and Issue:
93(6), P. 1420 - 1435.e5
Published: March 1, 2017
The
suprachiasmatic
nucleus
(SCN)
of
the
hypothalamus
orchestrates
daily
rhythms
physiology
and
behavior
in
mammals.
Its
circadian
(∼24
hr)
oscillations
gene
expression
electrical
activity
are
generated
intrinsically
can
persist
indefinitely
temporal
isolation.
This
robust
resilient
timekeeping
is
generally
regarded
as
a
product
intrinsic
connectivity
its
neurons.
Here
we
show
that
neurons
constitute
only
one
"half"
SCN
clock,
metabolically
active
during
daytime.
In
contrast,
astrocytes
nighttime,
when
they
suppress
by
regulating
extracellular
glutamate
levels.
glutamatergic
gliotransmission
sensed
dorsal
via
specific
pre-synaptic
NMDA
receptor
assemblies
containing
NR2C
subunits.
Remarkably,
somatic
genetic
re-programming
intracellular
clocks
was
capable
remodeling
behavioral
adult
mice.
Thus,
circuit-level
arises
from
interdependent
mutually
supportive
astrocytic-neuronal
signaling.
Brain Structure and Function,
Journal Year:
2017,
Volume and Issue:
222(5), P. 2017 - 2029
Published: March 9, 2017
Data
collected
on
astrocytes'
physiology
in
the
rodent
have
placed
them
as
key
regulators
of
synaptic,
neuronal,
network,
and
cognitive
functions.
While
these
findings
proved
highly
valuable
for
our
awareness
appreciation
non-neuronal
cell
significance
brain
physiology,
early
structural
phylogenic
investigations
human
astrocytes
hinted
at
potentially
different
astrocytic
properties.
This
idea
sparked
interest
to
replicate
rodent-based
studies
samples,
which
revealed
an
analogous
but
enhanced
involvement
neuronal
function
brain.
Such
evidence
pointed
a
central
role
sustaining
more
complex
information
processing.
Here,
we
review
current
state
knowledge
regarding
their
structure,
gene
profile,
functions,
highlighting
differences
with
astrocytes.
recent
insight
is
essential
assessment
relevance
using
animal
models
comprehending
functional
species-specific
properties
Moreover,
since
dysfunctional
been
described
many
disorders,
thorough
understanding
human-specific
crucial
better-adapted
translational
applications.
Journal of Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2018,
Volume and Issue:
38(1), P. 14 - 25
Published: Jan. 3, 2018
Astrocytes
are
highly
complex
cells
with
many
emerging
putative
roles
in
brain
function.
Of
these,
gliotransmission
(active
information
transfer
from
glia
to
neurons)
has
probably
the
widest
implications
on
our
understanding
of
how
works:
do
astrocytes
really
contribute
processing
within
neural
circuitry?
“Positive
evidence”
for
this
stems
work
multiple
laboratories
reporting
examples
modulatory
chemical
signaling
neurons
timeframe
hundreds
milliseconds
several
minutes.
This
involves,
but
is
not
limited
to,
Ca
2+
-dependent
vesicular
transmitter
release,
and
results
a
variety
regulatory
effects
at
synapses
circuits
that
abolished
by
preventing
elevations
or
blocking
exocytosis
selectively
astrocytes.
In
striking
contradiction,
methodologically
advanced
studies
few
produced
“negative
evidence,”
triggering
heated
debate
actual
existence
properties
gliotransmission.
context,
skeptics'
camp
arose,
eager
dismiss
whole
positive
evidence
based
number
assumptions
behind
negative
data,
such
as
following:
(1)
deleting
single
release
pathway
(IP3R2)
removes
all
sources
gliotransmission;
(2)
stimulating
transgenically
expressed
Gq-GPCR
(MrgA1)
mimics
physiological
underlying
gliotransmitter
release;
(3)
age-dependent
downregulation
an
endogenous
GPCR
(mGluR5)
questions
adulthood;
(4)
failure
transcriptome
analysis
detect
vGluts
canonical
synaptic
SNAREs
proves
inexistence/functional
irrelevance
release.
We
here
discuss
above
likely
wrong
oversimplistic.
light
most
recent
literature,
we
argue
more
phenomenon
than
originally
thought,
possibly
consisting
forms
processes,
whose
correct
study
require
sophisticated
tools
finer
scientific
experiments
done
until
today.
Under
perspective,
opposing
camps
can
be
reconciled
field
moved
forward.
Along
path,
cautious
mindset
attitude
open
discussion
mutual
respect
between
opponent
will
good
companions.
Dual
Perspectives
Companion
Paper:
Multiple
Lines
Evidence
Indicate
That
Gliotransmission
Does
Not
Occur
under
Physiological
Conditions,
Todd
A.
Fiacco
Ken
D.
McCarthy