Chapter title |
Role of Astrocytes in Central Respiratory Chemoreception
|
---|---|
Chapter number | 6 |
Book title |
Glial Cells in Health and Disease of the CNS
|
Published in |
Advances in experimental medicine and biology, January 2016
|
DOI | 10.1007/978-3-319-40764-7_6 |
Pubmed ID | |
Book ISBNs |
978-3-31-940762-3, 978-3-31-940764-7
|
Authors |
Jaime Eugenín León, María José Olivares, Sebastián Beltrán-Castillo, Eugenín León, Jaime, Olivares, María José, Beltrán-Castillo, Sebastián |
Abstract |
Astrocytes perform various homeostatic functions in the nervous system beyond that of a supportive or metabolic role for neurons. A growing body of evidence indicates that astrocytes are crucial for central respiratory chemoreception. This review presents a classical overview of respiratory central chemoreception and the new evidence for astrocytes as brainstem sensors in the respiratory response to hypercapnia. We review properties of astrocytes for chemosensory function and for modulation of the respiratory network. We propose that astrocytes not only mediate between CO2/H(+) levels and motor responses, but they also allow for two emergent functions: (1) Amplifying the responses of intrinsic chemosensitive neurons through feedforward signaling via gliotransmitters and; (2) Recruiting non-intrinsically chemosensitive cells thanks to volume spreading of signals (calcium waves and gliotransmitters) to regions distant from the CO2/H(+) sensitive domains. Thus, astrocytes may both increase the intensity of the neuron responses at the chemosensitive sites and recruit of a greater number of respiratory neurons to participate in the response to hypercapnia. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 20 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 5 | 25% |
Student > Bachelor | 3 | 15% |
Researcher | 2 | 10% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 2 | 10% |
Unspecified | 1 | 5% |
Other | 1 | 5% |
Unknown | 6 | 30% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 4 | 20% |
Neuroscience | 4 | 20% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 2 | 10% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 1 | 5% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 1 | 5% |
Other | 3 | 15% |
Unknown | 5 | 25% |