Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
18:11
Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number
Published on: November 16, 2010
Signaling between glia and neurons: focus on synaptic plasticity
1Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. njallen@stanford.edu
Current Opinion in Neurobiology
|September 8, 2005
Summary
Glial cells, including astrocytes and Schwann cells, actively influence synapse development and function. These glial cells modulate neural activity, highlighting their crucial role in brain function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Glial cells were historically considered passive support cells in the central nervous system (CNS).
- Recent research indicates active roles for glia in neural processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the emerging understanding of glial cells' active participation in nervous system function.
- To underscore the significance of glial-neuronal signaling.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on glial cell function.
- Analysis of studies investigating astrocyte and Schwann cell roles in synaptic plasticity.
Main Results:
- Astrocytes and Schwann cells actively promote synapse formation and elimination.
- Astrocytes release transmitters that modulate synaptic activity in the adult brain.
Conclusions:
- Glial cells are integral, active participants in brain function, not just supportive elements.
- Further research is needed to identify specific glial-neuronal signals and their functional importance.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:12Synaptic Signaling
Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
02:47The Synapse
Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
01:09Synaptic Signaling
Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
01:15Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue
In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...
01:28Neuronal Communication
Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...
01:01Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.