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Vesicular release of glutamate mediates bidirectional signaling between astrocytes and neurons
Author(s) -
Ni Yingchun,
Malarkey Erik B.,
Parpura Vladimir
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04864.x
Subject(s) - glutamate receptor , astrocyte , neuroscience , neurotransmission , excitatory postsynaptic potential , glutamatergic , biology , neurotransmitter , neuron , metabotropic glutamate receptor , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , central nervous system , receptor , biochemistry
The major excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, glutamate, can be released exocytotically by neurons and astrocytes. Glutamate released from neurons can affect adjacent astrocytes by changing their intracellular Ca 2+ dynamics and, vice versa , glutamate released from astrocytes can cause a variety of responses in neurons such as: an elevation of [Ca 2+ ] i , a slow inward current, an increase of excitability, modulation of synaptic transmission, synchronization of synaptic events, or some combination of these. This astrocyte‐neuron signaling pathway might be a widespread phenomenon throughout the brain with astrocytes possessing the means to be active participants in many functions of the CNS. Thus, it appears that the vesicular release of glutamate can serve as a common denominator for two of the major cellular components of the CNS, astrocytes and neurons, in brain function.