Anatomical aspects of glia-synapse interaction: the perisynaptic glial sheath consists of a specialized astrocyte compartment. 2002

A Derouiche, and E Anlauf, and G Aumann, and B Mühlstädt, and M Lavialle
Institute of Anatomy, University of Dresden, Fetscherstr 74, D-01307 Dresden, Germany. derouich@rcs.urz.tu-dresden.de

Amongst several forms of glia-neuronal communication, glia-synaptic interaction appears particularly interesting in the light of the well-known examples of two-way signaling between neurons and astrocytes. We review recent structural and physiological evidence showing that the structural correlate of glia-synaptic interaction is the peripheral astrocyte process (PAP) positioned next to the synaptic cleft. The structural and functional properties of these processes suggest that the PAP represents a separate astroglial compartment, in particular since it is characterized by the restricted localization of the actin-binding ERM protein ezrin. The structural properties of PAPs and this protein form the basis of rapid morphological changes of PAPs. The physiological relevance of PAP plasticity is illustrated by the example of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, where astrocytes display a high degree of activity-dependent plasticity reflecting circadian time.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002450 Cell Communication Any of several ways in which living cells of an organism communicate with one another, whether by direct contact between cells or by means of chemical signals carried by neurotransmitter substances, hormones, and cyclic AMP. Cell Interaction,Cell-to-Cell Interaction,Cell Communications,Cell Interactions,Cell to Cell Interaction,Cell-to-Cell Interactions,Communication, Cell,Communications, Cell,Interaction, Cell,Interaction, Cell-to-Cell,Interactions, Cell,Interactions, Cell-to-Cell
D002451 Cell Compartmentation A partitioning within cells due to the selectively permeable membranes which enclose each of the separate parts, e.g., mitochondria, lysosomes, etc. Cell Compartmentations,Compartmentation, Cell,Compartmentations, Cell
D003599 Cytoskeleton The network of filaments, tubules, and interconnecting filamentous bridges which give shape, structure, and organization to the cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic Filaments,Cytoskeletal Filaments,Microtrabecular Lattice,Cytoplasmic Filament,Cytoskeletal Filament,Cytoskeletons,Filament, Cytoplasmic,Filament, Cytoskeletal,Filaments, Cytoplasmic,Filaments, Cytoskeletal,Lattice, Microtrabecular,Lattices, Microtrabecular,Microtrabecular Lattices
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001253 Astrocytes A class of large neuroglial (macroglial) cells in the central nervous system - the largest and most numerous neuroglial cells in the brain and spinal cord. Astrocytes (from "star" cells) are irregularly shaped with many long processes, including those with "end feet" which form the glial (limiting) membrane and directly and indirectly contribute to the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER. They regulate the extracellular ionic and chemical environment, and "reactive astrocytes" (along with MICROGLIA) respond to injury. Astroglia,Astroglia Cells,Astroglial Cells,Astrocyte,Astroglia Cell,Astroglial Cell,Astroglias,Cell, Astroglia,Cell, Astroglial
D013569 Synapses Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions. Synapse

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