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1. Introduction
2. Astroglia
3. Basic features of passive astrocytes
4. Astrocytes occupy spatially separated domains (1)
5. Astrocytes occupy spatially separated domains (2)
6. Astrocytes occupy spatially separated domains (3)
7. Astrocytes are inter-connected via gap junctions
8. One astrocyte - many neurons, and vice versa
9. Astroglia closely contact synaptic terminals
10. Astrocytes - a revolutionary decade (1)
11. Astrocytes show spontaneous calcium signalling
12. Astrocytes respond to afferent stimulation
13. Astrocyte stimulation triggers glutamate release
14. Calcium elevation in astrocytes
15. Astrocytes - the new concept
16. Astrocyte-neuron signalling: potential concerns
17. Effects of astrocyte endogenous calcium
18. Monitoring astrocyte physiology and signalling
19. How to suppress slow calcium elevations?
20. A candidate (glio)transmitter signal
21. Calcium signalling & NMDAR-dependent LTP
22. Activation of the NMDAR co-agonist site
23. Reducing NMDAR co-agonist site occupancy
24. 750 nM DCKA blocks LTP
25. LTP and the availability of NMDAR co-agonist sites
26. LTP and the supply of D-serine by astrocytes
27. No evidence of D-serine release by astrocytes
28. Astrocytes extend their control of LTP induction (1)
29. Astrocytes extend their control of LTP induction (2)
30. Astrocytes extend their control of LTP induction (3)
31. Tentative mechanisms to extend LTP control
32. Conclusion
33. The task
34. Acknowledgements
35. Thank you for your attention

Topics Covered

• Astroglia are the most abundant type of glial cells
• Their role has recently emerged as an active contributor to neural function
• The underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood
• Astrocytes release D-serine in a Ca2+ dependent manner
• Interference with this release reduces activation of synaptic NMDA receptors
• This in turn could severely impair induction of long-term synaptic potentiation
• Astroglia thus may play a fundamental role in mechanisms of memory formation in the brain

Links

Series:

• Physiology and Pathophysiology of Neuroglia

Categories:

• Biochemistry
• Cell Biology
• Neuroscience

Therapeutic Areas:

• Neurology

Talk Citation

Publication History

• Published on January 1, 2012

Financial Disclosures

• Prof. Dmitri Rusakov has not informed HSTalks of any commercial/financial relationship that it is appropriate to disclose.