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Synapses on NG2‐expressing progenitors in the brain: multiple functions?
Author(s) -
Gallo Vittorio,
Mangin JeanMarie,
Kukley Maria,
Dietrich Dirk
Publication year - 2008
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/jphysiol.2008.158436
Subject(s) - neuroscience , biology , progenitor cell , context (archaeology) , excitatory postsynaptic potential , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , progenitor , neural stem cell , oligodendrocyte , white matter , microbiology and biotechnology , stem cell , central nervous system , medicine , myelin , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , paleontology
Progenitor cells expressing the proteoglycan NG2 represent approximately 5% of the total cells in the adult brain, and are found both in grey and white matter regions where they give rise to oligodendrocytes. The finding that these cells receive synaptic contacts from excitatory and inhibitory neurons has not only raised major interest in the possible roles of these synapses, but also stimulated further research on the developmental and cellular functions of NG2‐expressing (NG2 + ) progenitors themselves in the context of neural circuit physiology. Here we review recent findings on the functional properties of the synapses on NG2 + cells in grey and white matter regions of the brain. In this review article we make an attempt to integrate current knowledge on the cellular and developmental properties of NG2 + progenitors with the functional attributes of their synapses, in order to understand the physiological relevance of neuron–NG2 + progenitor signal transmission. We propose that, although NG2 + progenitors receive synaptic contact in all brain regions where they are found, their synapses might have different developmental and functional roles, probably reflecting the distinct functions of NG2 + progenitors in the brain.