Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
Trends Neurosci. 2021 Oct;44(10):837-848. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.07.004. Epub 2021 Jul 30.
Activity-dependent long-term changes in synaptic transmission known as synaptic plasticity are fundamental processes in brain function and are recognized as the cellular basis of learning and memory. While the neuronal mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity have been largely identified, the involvement of astrocytes in these processes has been less recognized. However, astrocytes are emerging as important cells that regulate synaptic function by interacting with neurons at tripartite synapses. In this review, we discuss recent evidence suggesting that astrocytes are necessary elements in long-term synaptic depression (LTD). We highlight the mechanistic heterogeneity of astrocyte contribution to this form of synaptic plasticity and propose that astrocytes are integral participants in LTD.
活动依赖性的突触传递长时程改变，即突触可塑性，是大脑功能的基本过程，被认为是学习和记忆的细胞基础。虽然突触可塑性的神经元机制已基本确定，但星形胶质细胞在这些过程中的作用还没有得到广泛认可。然而，星形胶质细胞正在成为调节三突触中神经元功能的重要细胞。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了最近的证据表明星形胶质细胞是长时程抑制（ LTD ）的必要元素。我们强调了星形胶质细胞对这种形式的突触可塑性的贡献的机制异质性，并提出星形胶质细胞是 LTD 的不可或缺的参与者。
