Recent advances in （patho）physiology of astroglia  

作　　者：Alexei VERKHRATSKY Vladimir PARPURA 

机构地区：[1]Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK [2]IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011, Bilbao, Spain [3]Department of Neurobiology, Center for Glial Biology in Medicine, Civitan International Research Center, Atomic Force Microscopy & Nanotechnology Laboratories, and Evelyn F McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA

出　　处：《Acta Pharmacologica Sinica》2010年第9期1044-1054,共11页中国药理学报（英文版）

基　　金：Authors research was supported by Alzheimer＇s Research Trust （UK） Programme Grant （ART/PG2004A/1） to AV; by National Institute of Health （NIH） grant to VP （R01 MH 069791）; by National Science Foundation （CBET 0943343） grant to VP, by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic （GACR 305/08/1381 and GACR 305/08/1384） to AV.

摘　　要：Our view of astrocytes in the operation of the brain is changing dramatically over the last 3 decades. Astroglial calcium excitability controls the release of gliotransmitters, which can occur at the tripartite synapse. Astrocytes not only modulate synaptic transmis- sion by releasing and taking up transmitters, but also receiving neuronal signals that act upon astrocytic plasma membrane receptors. This process represents the bidirectional neurone-gila communication. Additionally, astrocytes play role in the regulation of blood flow as well as ion and water homeostasis. Many of the brain dysfunctions are primary astropathies, including hepatic encephalopathy and Alexander disease, while other brain malfunctions, such as epilepsy and Alzheimer disease, may have substantial astrocytic contribution. Thus, these star-shaped cells by their roles in （patho）physiology of the brain seem to live up to the expectation one can have from their given name - astrocyte.Our view of astrocytes in the operation of the brain is changing dramatically over the last 3 decades. Astroglial calcium excitability controls the release of gliotransmitters, which can occur at the tripartite synapse. Astrocytes not only modulate synaptic transmis- sion by releasing and taking up transmitters, but also receiving neuronal signals that act upon astrocytic plasma membrane receptors. This process represents the bidirectional neurone-gila communication. Additionally, astrocytes play role in the regulation of blood flow as well as ion and water homeostasis. Many of the brain dysfunctions are primary astropathies, including hepatic encephalopathy and Alexander disease, while other brain malfunctions, such as epilepsy and Alzheimer disease, may have substantial astrocytic contribution. Thus, these star-shaped cells by their roles in （patho）physiology of the brain seem to live up to the expectation one can have from their given name - astrocyte.

关 键 词：NEUROGLIA ASTROCYTE gliotransmission NEUROPATHOLOGY NEURODEGENERATION 

分 类 号：Q421[生物学—神经生物学] Q255[生物学—生理学]