Review article
Astrocytes revisited: concise historic outlook on glutamate homeostasis and signaling
Vladimir Parpura
orcid.org/0000-0002-4643-2197
; Department of Neurobiology Center for Glial Biology in Medicine, Atomic Force Microscopy & Nanotechnology Laboratories, Civitan International Research Institute, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Ala, USA
Alexei Verkhratsky
; Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Abstract
Astroglia is a main type of brain neuroglia, which includes
many cell sub-types that differ in their morphology and
physiological properties and yet are united by the main
function, which is the maintenance of brain homeostasis.
Astrocytes employ a variety of mechanisms for communicating
with neuronal networks. The communication mediated
by neurotransmitter glutamate has received a particular
attention. Glutamate is de novo synthesized exclusively
in astrocytes; astroglia-derived glutamine is the source of
glutamate for neurons. Glutamate is released from both
neurons and astroglia through exocytosis, although various
other mechanisms may also play a role. Glutamateactivated
specific receptors trigger excitatory responses in
neurons and astroglia. Here we overview main properties
of glutamatergic transmission in neuronal-glial networks
and identify some future challenges facing the field.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
94953
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2012.
Visits: 1.522 *