Specialized astrocytes mediate glutamatergic gliotransmission in the CNS

Abstract Multimodal astrocyte–neuron communications govern brain circuitry assembly and function 1 . For example, through rapid glutamate release, astrocytes can control excitability, plasticity and synchronous activity 2,3 of synaptic networks, while also contributing to their dysregulation in neuropsychiatric conditions 4–7 . For astrocytes to communicate through fast focal glutamate release, they should possess an apparatus for Ca 2+ -dependent exocytosis similar to neurons 8–10 . However, the existence of this mechanism has been questioned 11–13 owing to inconsistent data 14–17 and a lack of direct supporting evidence. Here we revisited the astrocyte glutamate exocytosis hypothesis by considering the…

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• WC
  Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering
• SN
  Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung

  Awards: 160620, 173124, 51NF40-, 31003A, 51NF40-160620, 201276
• UD
  Université de Lausanne