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Glial calcium: homeostasis and signaling function
A Verkhratsky1, R K Orkand, H Kettenmann
1Department of Cellular Neurosciences, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch, Germany.
Physiological Reviews
|February 11, 1998
Summary
Glial cells exhibit calcium signaling ([Ca2+]i) in response to stimuli, forming complex patterns. These calcium waves integrate glial activity and influence neuronal function, representing a form of glial excitability.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Glial cells are crucial for nervous system function.
- Glial cells respond to diverse stimuli with changes in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i).
- These calcium dynamics are vital for cellular communication and network activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying glial calcium signaling.
- To explore the functional implications of glial [Ca2+]i dynamics in neuronal-glial interactions.
- To understand how glial calcium responses contribute to information processing in the brain.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of molecular cascades controlling calcium ion (Ca2+) movement.
- Investigation of voltage- and ligand-gated channels, pumps, and exchangers.
- Study of metabotropic receptors and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate signaling pathways.
- Examination of calcium wave propagation through gap junctions.
Main Results:
- Glial [Ca2+]i responses display diverse temporal and spatial patterns.
- Agonist-specific calcium signaling patterns suggest a role in information coding.
- Calcium waves propagate between glial cells via gap junctions, integrating activity.
- Glial calcium signaling influences neuronal function and represents glial excitability.
Conclusions:
- Glial calcium signaling is a complex process involving multiple molecular pathways.
- Calcium waves in glial networks play a role in information integration and functional network definition.
- Glial excitability, mediated by calcium signaling, is essential for proper nervous system function and neuronal-glial communication.