• Ulrike Pannasch and Nathalie Rouach.
• Neuroglial Interactions in Cerebral Physiopathology, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche 7241, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 1050, Collège de France, 75005 Paris, France.
• Trends Neurosci. 2013 Jul 1;36(7):405-17.

AbstractAstrocytes contribute to neurotransmission through a variety of mechanisms ranging from synapse isolation to active signaling. Astroglial involvement in neurophysiology has been mostly investigated at the single-cell level. However, a unique feature of astrocytes is their high level of intercellular connectivity mediated by connexins, the proteins forming gap junction (GJ) channels. These astroglial GJ circuits enable the rapid intercellular exchange of ions, metabolites, and neuroactive substances. Recent findings have suggested that, despite their extensity, astroglial networks are also selective, preferential as well as plastic, and can regulate synapses, neuronal circuits, and behavior. The present review critically discusses the impact of astroglial networks on normal and pathological neuronal information processing as well as the underlying mechanisms.Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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