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Calcium signaling in Schwann cells at synaptic and extra‐synaptic sites: Active glial modulation of neuronal activity
Author(s) -
Rousse Isabelle,
Robitaille Richard
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/glia.20388
Subject(s) - neuroscience , biology , neurotransmission , postsynaptic potential , synaptic plasticity , neuromuscular junction , synaptic fatigue , schwann cell , nervous system , neuroglia , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , central nervous system , microbiology and biotechnology , excitatory postsynaptic potential , receptor , biochemistry
Glial cells are widely dispersed in the central nervous system (CNS) as well as in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). In the PNS, perisynaptic Schwann cells (PSCs) are the glial cells associated with the pre‐ and postsynaptic elements of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). They, as other glial cells of the CNS, respond to high‐frequency motor nerve stimulation with an increase in intracellular Ca 2+ . In addition to detecting and responding to neurotransmission, PSCs are involved in short‐term plasticity events where they depress neurotransmission through G‐protein‐dependent mechanisms and potentiate synaptic activity via Ca 2+ ‐dependent mechanisms. In this review, we will discuss evidence that outlines the role of PSCs in short‐ and long‐term modulation of synaptic activity. We will also emphasize present functional similarities and differences in PSC activation at different NMJs. The importance of glial‐neural interactions along myelinating axons will also be discussed. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.