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Ionic signalling in astroglia beyond calcium
Author(s) -
Verkhratsky Alexei,
Untiet Verena,
Rose Christine R.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jp277478
Subject(s) - homeostasis , extracellular , intracellular , neurotransmission , neuroscience , microbiology and biotechnology , biophysics , calcium , chemistry , central nervous system , nervous system , premovement neuronal activity , biology , biochemistry , receptor , organic chemistry
Astrocytes are homeostatic and protective cells of the central nervous system. Astroglial homeostatic responses are tightly coordinated with neuronal activity. Astrocytes maintain neuronal excitability through regulation of extracellular ion concentrations, as well as assisting and modulating synaptic transmission by uptake and catabolism of major neurotransmitters. Moreover, they support neuronal metabolism and detoxify ammonium and reactive oxygen species. Astroglial homeostatic actions are initiated and controlled by intercellular signalling of ions, including Ca 2+ , Na + , Cl − , H + and possibly K + . This review summarises current knowledge on ionic signals mediated by the major monovalent ions, which occur in microdomains, as global events, or as propagating intercellular waves and thereby represent the substrate for astroglial excitability.