Adrenergic receptor regulation of amino acid neurotransmitter uptake in astrocytes

Using culture techniques it has been demonstrated that astroglia possess uptake carriers for amino acid neurotransmitters and enzyme systems for inactivation of several neurotransmitters. They express membrane receptors functionally coupled to second messenger systems and they can regulate the extracellular ionic milieu including a clearing of K+ from the extracellular space. With these specific functional characteristics and their strategic anatomy the cells might influence the passage of information between neurons.