glia and neuroinflammation

Question 1

what are the types of glial cells?

Answer 1

astrocytes
      - fibrous
      - protoplasmic
oligodendrocytes
      - perineuronal
      - intrafascicular
microglia 
      - mesoderm
      - monocyte/macrophage
ependymal cells
choroid plexus
radial glia

schwann cells are glial cells, but are only in the PNS

Question 2

what are functions of astrocytes (4)?

Answer 2

• establishing the BBB - processes go to and - encase blood vessels - communicate to the endothelial cells in the vessels to signal that they should form the BBB
• send processes to pia mater and hold it to the brain
• send processes that surround dendritic spines - may actively control the making and breaking of synapses
• regulates extracellular environment by releasing trophic factors, neuropeptides, inflammatory mediators, absorbing NT, making ECM proteins, detox, uptake and recycling of glutamate

can become cancerous

Question 3

what do oliogodendrocytes look like? what is their function?

Answer 3

small nuclei, lots of processes - wrap multiple neurons (myelination

Question 4

what do microglia look like? what is their origin?

Answer 4

dendritic cells - flatten out if damage to brain occurs - don’t come from neuroepithelium!

Question 5

what is the tripartate synapse?

Answer 5

the pre and postsynaptic neurons plus astrocytes, that will surround the synaptic cleft and help to regulate the environment within it and Ca levels, glutamate, pass lactate to neurons

Question 6

what are Ca waves?

Answer 6

way that astrocytes may communicate
via VG Ca channels and ATP signaling
pass through glial cells - transverse brain much more slowly than action potentials do

Question 7

what do ependymal cells do?

Answer 7

seem to be what’s left behind but may have important function
creates ciliated barrier along ventricles

Question 8

what do microglia do?

Answer 8

immune cells but with neuro origin - immune system of the brain
have dendritic profiles - look for antigens, signs of damage, etc

Question 9

what are resting microglia called?

Answer 9

ramified or resting

change shape to ameboid when activated - engulf the apoptotic cell

Question 10

what cells are involved in neuroinflammation?

Answer 10

astrocytes
microglia
endothelial cells
perivascular cells
circulating immune cells