The diverse actions of astrocytes during synaptic development.

The diverse actions of astrocytes during synaptic development.
Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2017 Sep 19;47:38-43
Authors: Bosworth AP, Allen NJ
Abstract
In the developing brain, cortical circuits are established through a complex process of synaptogenesis, maturation, and synaptic pruning. Astrocytes carry out diverse functions during each of these stages to facilitate the formation of complex networks. Recent work has begun to demonstrate that these heterogeneous roles during excitatory synaptic development are determined by the astrocyte population, brain region, and neuron type. This review will focus on current findings which highlight cell type specific mechanisms of excitatory synaptogenesis, as well as multiple mechanisms engaged by astrocytes to facilitate synaptic maturation and pruning.
PMID: 28938161 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Current Opinion in Neurobiology - September 19, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Bosworth AP, Allen NJ Tags: Curr Opin Neurobiol Source Type: research