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Glia as transmitter sources and sensors in health and disease

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journal contribution
posted on 2010-06-14, 14:20 authored by António Miguel de Jesus Domingues, Mark Taylor, Robert Fern
Glial cells express a bewildering array of neurotransmitter receptors. To illustrate the complexity of expression, we have assayed non-glutamatergic neurotransmitter receptor mRNA in isolated rat optic nerve, a preparation devoid of neurons and neuronal synapses and from which relatively pure “glial” RNA can be isolated. Of the 44 receptor subunits examined which span the GABA-A, nicotinic, adreno- and glycine receptor families, over three quarters were robustly expressed in this mixed population of white matter glial cells, with several expressed at higher levels than found in control whole brain RNA. In addition to the complexity of glial receptor expression, numerous neurotransmitter release mechanisms have been identified. We have focused on glutamate release from astrocytes, which can occur via at least seven distinct pathways and which is implicated in excitotoxic injury and are neurons and glia. Recent findings suggest that non-glutamatergic receptors can also mediate acute glial injury are also discussed.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS44875 to RF).

History

Citation

Neurochemistry International, 2010, 57(4), pp. 359-366

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Published in

Neurochemistry International

Publisher

Elsevier

issn

0197-0186

Available date

2010-06-14

Publisher version

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197018610001233

Language

en

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