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Astrocyte and Microglial Control of Glutamatergic Signalling: A Primer on Understanding the Disruptive Role of Chronic Stress
Author(s) -
Mayhew J.,
Beart P. M.,
Walker F. R.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1111/jne.12273
Subject(s) - glutamatergic , neuroscience , astrocyte , microglia , chronic stress , neurotransmission , glutamate receptor , psychology , medicine , biology , central nervous system , receptor , inflammation
It is now well established that chronic stress can induce significant structural remodelling of astrocytes and microglia. Until recently, however, the full significance of these morphological disturbances has remained unclear. Clues to the significance of astroglial re‐organisation following stress are beginning to emerge from a compelling literature describing how astrocytes contribute to glutamatergic neurotransmission. The present review briefly summarises these two fields of research, identifies points of overlap and, in doing so, pin‐points future research directions for stress neurobiology. Ultimately, understanding how chronic stress can disrupt the interactions of astrocytes and microglia with neurones has the potential in the future to improve the development of therapeutics designed to treat stress‐related illnesses such as depression.