Astrocytes Control Synapse Formation, Function, and Elimination

  1. Cagla Eroglu3
  1. 1Stanford University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, Stanford, California 94305
  2. 2Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, La Jolla, California 92037
  3. 3Duke University Medical Center, Cell Biology and Neurobiology Departments, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Durham, North Carolina 27710
  1. Correspondence: cagla.eroglu{at}dm.duke.edu

Abstract

Astrocytes, through their close associations with synapses, can monitor and alter synaptic function, thus actively controlling synaptic transmission in the adult brain. Besides their important role at adult synapses, in the last three decades a number of critical findings have highlighted the importance of astrocytes in the establishment of synaptic connectivity in the developing brain. In this article, we will review the key findings on astrocytic control of synapse formation, function, and elimination. First, we will summarize our current structural and functional understanding of astrocytes at the synapse. Then, we will discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which developing and mature astrocytes instruct the formation, maturation, and refinement of synapses. Our aim is to provide an overview of astrocytes as important players in the establishment of a functional nervous system.



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      1. Cold Spring Harb. Perspect. Biol. 7: a020370 Copyright © 2015 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; all rights reserved

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