Verkhratsky Alexei, Nedergaard Maiken
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Achucarro Center for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011 Bilbao, Spain University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603022, Russia
Division of Glia Disease and Therapeutics, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical School, Rochester, NY 14580, USA
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2014 Oct 19;369(1654):20130595. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0595.
Astroglial perisynaptic sheath covers the majority of synapses in the central nervous system. This glial coverage evolved as a part of the synaptic structure in which elements directly responsible for neurotransmission (exocytotic machinery and appropriate receptors) concentrate in neuronal membranes, whereas multiple molecules imperative for homeostatic maintenance of the synapse (transporters for neurotransmitters, ions, amino acids, etc.) are shifted to glial membranes that have substantially larger surface area. The astrocytic perisynaptic processes act as an 'astroglial cradle' essential for synaptogenesis, maturation, isolation and maintenance of synapses, representing the fundamental mechanism contributing to synaptic connectivity, synaptic plasticity and information processing in the nervous system.
星形胶质细胞突触周鞘覆盖中枢神经系统中的大部分突触。这种胶质细胞覆盖作为突触结构的一部分而进化，其中直接负责神经传递的元件（胞吐机制和适当的受体）集中在神经元膜中，而对于突触稳态维持至关重要的多种分子（神经递质、离子、氨基酸等的转运体）则转移到具有大得多表面积的胶质细胞膜上。星形胶质细胞的突触周过程作为突触形成、成熟、隔离和维持所必需的“星形胶质摇篮”，代表了有助于神经系统中突触连接、突触可塑性和信息处理的基本机制。
