Morphological plasticity of astroglia: Understanding synaptic microenvironment.
Glia
; 63(12): 2133-51, 2015 Dec.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25782611
Memory formation in the brain is thought to rely on the remodeling of synaptic connections which eventually results in neural network rewiring. This remodeling is likely to involve ultrathin astroglial protrusions which often occur in the immediate vicinity of excitatory synapses. The phenomenology, cellular mechanisms, and causal relationships of such astroglial restructuring remain, however, poorly understood. This is in large part because monitoring and probing of the underpinning molecular machinery on the scale of nanoscopic astroglial compartments remains a challenge. Here we briefly summarize the current knowledge regarding the cellular organisation of astroglia in the synaptic microenvironment and discuss molecular mechanisms potentially involved in use-dependent astroglial morphogenesis. We also discuss recent observations concerning morphological astroglial plasticity, the respective monitoring methods, and some of the newly emerging techniques that might help with conceptual advances in the area.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Sinapsis
/
Astrocitos
/
Plasticidad Neuronal
Tipo de estudio:
Qualitative_research
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Glia
Asunto de la revista:
NEUROLOGIA
Año:
2015
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos