Neuroglial Interactions in Cerebral Physiopathology, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche 7241, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 1050, Collège de France, 75005 Paris, France.
Trends Neurosci. 2013 Jul;36(7):405-17. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2013.04.004. Epub 2013 May 7.
Astrocytes contribute to neurotransmission through a variety of mechanisms ranging from synapse isolation to active signaling. Astroglial involvement in neurophysiology has been mostly investigated at the single-cell level. However, a unique feature of astrocytes is their high level of intercellular connectivity mediated by connexins, the proteins forming gap junction (GJ) channels. These astroglial GJ circuits enable the rapid intercellular exchange of ions, metabolites, and neuroactive substances. Recent findings have suggested that, despite their extensity, astroglial networks are also selective, preferential as well as plastic, and can regulate synapses, neuronal circuits, and behavior. The present review critically discusses the impact of astroglial networks on normal and pathological neuronal information processing as well as the underlying mechanisms.
星形胶质细胞通过多种机制参与神经传递，从突触隔离到主动信号传递不等。星形胶质细胞在神经生理学中的参与主要在单细胞水平上进行了研究。然而，星形胶质细胞的一个独特特征是它们通过连接蛋白（形成缝隙连接（GJ）通道的蛋白质）介导的高水平细胞间连接。这些星形胶质细胞 GJ 电路允许离子、代谢物和神经活性物质的快速细胞间交换。最近的发现表明，尽管星形胶质细胞网络广泛存在，但它们也是有选择性的、优先的和可塑的，可以调节突触、神经元回路和行为。本综述批判性地讨论了星形胶质细胞网络对正常和病理性神经元信息处理的影响以及潜在的机制。
