Marrero H, Astion M L, Coles J A, Orkand R K
Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan 00901.
Nature. 1989 Jun 1;339(6223):378-80. doi: 10.1038/339378a0.
The functions of glial cells in the nervous system are not well defined, with the exception of myelin production by oligodendrocytes, uptake of amino-acid synaptic transmitters, and a contribution to extracellular potassium homeostasis. Neuroglia have receptors for neurotransmitters which may be involved in neuron-glia interactions. Recent studies have demonstrated voltage-gated ion channels in glial membranes. In a study of the optic nerve of the frog, small areas of the surface were examined with the loose patch-clamp method, and voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels, presumably located in the membranes of the astrocytes forming the glia limitans, were identified. We now report that nerve impulses in the axons of the frog optic nerve transiently alter the properties of the voltage-dependent membrane channels of the surface glial cells (astrocytes), a demonstration of a new form of neuron-glia interaction.
除了少突胶质细胞产生髓鞘、摄取氨基酸类突触递质以及维持细胞外钾离子稳态外，神经胶质细胞在神经系统中的功能尚未完全明确。神经胶质细胞具有神经递质受体，可能参与神经元与神经胶质细胞的相互作用。最近的研究表明神经胶质细胞膜上存在电压门控离子通道。在一项对青蛙视神经的研究中，采用松散膜片钳技术检查了神经表面的小区域，确定了电压门控的钠离子和钾离子通道，推测这些通道位于形成胶质界膜的星形胶质细胞膜上。我们现在报告，青蛙视神经轴突中的神经冲动会短暂改变表面神经胶质细胞（星形胶质细胞）电压依赖性膜通道的特性，这证明了一种新的神经元与神经胶质细胞相互作用形式。
