Fields R Douglas, Stevens-Graham Beth
Neurocytology and Physiology Section, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Science. 2002 Oct 18;298(5593):556-62. doi: 10.1126/science.298.5593.556.
Two-way communication between neurons and nonneural cells called glia is essential for axonal conduction, synaptic transmission, and information processing and thus is required for normal functioning of the nervous system during development and throughout adult life. The signals between neurons and glia include ion fluxes, neurotransmitters, cell adhesion molecules, and specialized signaling molecules released from synaptic and nonsynaptic regions of the neuron. In contrast to the serial flow of information along chains of neurons, glia communicate with other glial cells through intracellular waves of calcium and via intercellular diffusion of chemical messengers. By releasing neurotransmitters and other extracellular signaling molecules, glia can affect neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission and perhaps coordinate activity across networks of neurons.
神经元与被称为神经胶质细胞的非神经细胞之间的双向通信对于轴突传导、突触传递和信息处理至关重要，因此在神经系统发育期间及成年后的整个生命过程中，正常功能的维持都需要这种通信。神经元与神经胶质细胞之间的信号包括离子通量、神经递质、细胞黏附分子以及从神经元的突触和非突触区域释放的特殊信号分子。与信息沿神经元链的串行流动不同，神经胶质细胞通过细胞内钙波以及化学信使的细胞间扩散与其他神经胶质细胞进行通信。通过释放神经递质和其他细胞外信号分子，神经胶质细胞可以影响神经元的兴奋性和突触传递，或许还能协调神经元网络的活动。
