The homeostatic astroglia emerges from evolutionary specialization of neural cells

Alexei Verkhratsky; Maiken Nedergaard

doi:10.1098/rstb.2015.0428

The homeostatic astroglia emerges from evolutionary specialization of neural cells

54 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Evolution of the nervous system progressed through cellular diversification and specialization of functions. Conceptually, the nervous system is composed from electrically excitable neuronal networks connected with chemical synapses and non-excitable glial cells that provide for homeostasis and defence. Astrocytes are integrated into neural networks through multipartite synapses; astroglial perisynaptic processes closely enwrap synaptic contacts and control homeostasis of the synaptic cleft, supply neurons with glutamate and GABA obligatory precursor glutamine and contribute to synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. In neuropathology, astrocytes may undergo reactive remodelling or degeneration; to a large extent, astroglial reactions define progression of the pathology and neurological outcome.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evolution brings Ca(2+) and ATP together to control life and death'.

Original language	English
Article number	20150428
Journal	Royal Society of London. Philosophical Transactions B. Biological Sciences
Volume	371
Issue number	1700
Pages (from-to)	1-11
Number of pages	11
ISSN	0962-8436
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2015.0428
Publication status	Published - 5 Aug 2016

Keywords

Journal Article
Review

Access to Document

10.1098/rstb.2015.0428

rstb.2015.0428Final published version, 797 KB

Cite this

@article{115f8583284f4b81ab4f71a5acfcfe46,

title = "The homeostatic astroglia emerges from evolutionary specialization of neural cells",

abstract = "Evolution of the nervous system progressed through cellular diversification and specialization of functions. Conceptually, the nervous system is composed from electrically excitable neuronal networks connected with chemical synapses and non-excitable glial cells that provide for homeostasis and defence. Astrocytes are integrated into neural networks through multipartite synapses; astroglial perisynaptic processes closely enwrap synaptic contacts and control homeostasis of the synaptic cleft, supply neurons with glutamate and GABA obligatory precursor glutamine and contribute to synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. In neuropathology, astrocytes may undergo reactive remodelling or degeneration; to a large extent, astroglial reactions define progression of the pathology and neurological outcome.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evolution brings Ca(2+) and ATP together to control life and death'.",

keywords = "Journal Article, Review",

author = "Alexei Verkhratsky and Maiken Nedergaard",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2016 The Author(s).",

year = "2016",

month = aug,

day = "5",

doi = "10.1098/rstb.2015.0428",

language = "English",

volume = "371",

pages = "1--11",

journal = "Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences",

issn = "0962-8436",

publisher = "The/Royal Society",

number = "1700",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The homeostatic astroglia emerges from evolutionary specialization of neural cells

AU - Verkhratsky, Alexei

AU - Nedergaard, Maiken

PY - 2016/8/5

Y1 - 2016/8/5

N2 - Evolution of the nervous system progressed through cellular diversification and specialization of functions. Conceptually, the nervous system is composed from electrically excitable neuronal networks connected with chemical synapses and non-excitable glial cells that provide for homeostasis and defence. Astrocytes are integrated into neural networks through multipartite synapses; astroglial perisynaptic processes closely enwrap synaptic contacts and control homeostasis of the synaptic cleft, supply neurons with glutamate and GABA obligatory precursor glutamine and contribute to synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. In neuropathology, astrocytes may undergo reactive remodelling or degeneration; to a large extent, astroglial reactions define progression of the pathology and neurological outcome.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evolution brings Ca(2+) and ATP together to control life and death'.

AB - Evolution of the nervous system progressed through cellular diversification and specialization of functions. Conceptually, the nervous system is composed from electrically excitable neuronal networks connected with chemical synapses and non-excitable glial cells that provide for homeostasis and defence. Astrocytes are integrated into neural networks through multipartite synapses; astroglial perisynaptic processes closely enwrap synaptic contacts and control homeostasis of the synaptic cleft, supply neurons with glutamate and GABA obligatory precursor glutamine and contribute to synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. In neuropathology, astrocytes may undergo reactive remodelling or degeneration; to a large extent, astroglial reactions define progression of the pathology and neurological outcome.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evolution brings Ca(2+) and ATP together to control life and death'.

KW - Journal Article

KW - Review

U2 - 10.1098/rstb.2015.0428

DO - 10.1098/rstb.2015.0428

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27377722

SN - 0962-8436

VL - 371

SP - 1

EP - 11

JO - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

JF - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

IS - 1700

M1 - 20150428

ER -

The homeostatic astroglia emerges from evolutionary specialization of neural cells

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this