18 - Glial Cells Flashcards
What are the three types of glial cell?
Astrocytes
Oligodendrocytes
Microglial cells
(oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (precursor for oligodendrocytes))
During disease how are glial cells altered?
Positive alterations: eg gain of function
Negative: Loss of function
Astrocytes are uniquely positioned to support and influence the ___
Astrocytes are uniquely positioned to support and influence the synapse
Astrocytes make extensive contacts with multiple ____
Astrocytes make extensive contacts with multiple dendrites
Oligodendrocytes are the ____ cell of the CNS
Produce ____ wrapping substance
Oligodendrocytes are the myelinating cell of the CNS
Produce lipid-rich wrapping substance
Astrocyte fine processes interact with ____
Astrocyte fine processes interact with synapses
A single astrocyte has innumerable ____ that fill up a ____ in the brain
A single astrocyte has innumerable *fine processes *that fill up a spherical domain in the brain
Astrocytes lack:
long processes that project to distant locations
At the EM level astrocyte processes wrap
all synapses
-important in regulation of synaptic function
Astrocytes at the synapses can sense ____ (and ____); important for getting rid of
Astrocytes at the synapses can sense glutamate and neuronal activity; important for getting rid of glutamate
Astrocytes are rich with the glutamate transporter ____
Astrocytes are rich with the glutamate transporter GLT-1
What happens when GLT-1 is put into a HEK cell (with patch clamping)
GLT-1 brings in glutamate as well as ions
GLT-1 in hek cell → can see that cells respond electrophysiologically based on level of glutamate
→ suggests that astrocytes sense glutamate
Glutamate is ____ through astrocyte using the ____ transporter. Which can regulate:
Glutamate is recycled through astrocyte using the GLT-1 transporter.
Glutamate reuptake can regulate firing
____ inhibits Glutamate reuptake transporters (eg Glt-1)
PDC inhibits Glutamate reuptake transporters (eg Glt-1)
What effect does PDC have on the granule cell?
Prolonged spiking in granule cell in response to mossy fibre input
recall: PDC inhibits glutamate reuptake which can regulate firing
Astrocytes express ____ receptors
Astrocytes express glutamate (NMDA/AMPA etc) and kainic acid receptors