The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry
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Oligodendrocytes have received much attention in relation to neurological and psychiatric disorders. The involvement of oligodendrocytes and their myelin in normal brain functions has been suggested by many lines of evidence. ⋯ In this article, we summarize evidence for the ability of oligodendrocytes to monitor neuronal activity and for the facilitation of axonal conduction by oligodendrocytes by mechanisms other than myelination. We suggest the underlying mechanisms for this facilitation in relation to the morphological dynamics of myelinating processes and discuss the physiological roles of the facilitation in information processing.
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Synaptic plasticity, the ability of neurons to change the number and strength of their synapses, has long been considered the sole province of the neuron. Yet neurons do not function in isolation; they are a part of elaborate glial networks where they are intimately associated with astrocytes. ⋯ During periods of synaptogenesis, astrocyte processes are highly mobile and may contribute to the stabilization of new synapses. As our understanding of the extent of their influence at the synapse unfolds, it is clear that astrocytes are well poised to modulate multiple aspects of synaptic plasticity.