Membrane proteins I (astrocytic syncytium)

Astrocyte functions

1. contact the brain … and induce … and … to shift … flow from one region of the brain to the other

2. the convert … into … and feed it to the neurons

3. they secrete … … … to stimulate … of nervous tissue

4. the communicate … with neurons to modulate … communication

5. … of NTs to stop signalling

1. capillaries, vasodilation and vasoconstriction, blood

2. glucose, lactate

3. nerve growth factor, development

4. electrically, synaptic

5. reuptake

the astrocytic syncytium is important in propagation of … waves and can be induced by … stimulation or by …

calcium, mechanical, glutamate

too much glutamate can be damaging to neurons as it binds to … receptors which causes … of neurons to the point of neuronal death

AMPA, hyperexcitability

Astrocytic syncytium

astrocytes form a syncytium through extensive coupling of their cytoplasm though … …, primarily constructed from … proteins

the syncytium develops as individual … astrocytes mature (type of astrocytes found primarily in the … matter of the …)

studies showing that in the … … region of the brain, both the … morphology and the establishment of uniform … conductance are reached by postnatal day 15 in mice

gap junctions, connexin

protoplasmic, grey, CNS

hippocampal CA1, spongiform, potassium

two important hallmarks of a functional syncytium in the hippocampal CA1 region

spongiform morphology and uniform potassium conductance

the astrocytic syncytium allows exchange of … molecules and …

5 examples of the former

3 examples of the latter

small molecules and ions

water, glucose, second messengers, metabolites and NTs

sodium, calcium and potassium

exchange of small molecules and ions in the astrocytic syncytium generates synchronised … and … waves

signalling and metabolic

dramatic changes in the … … concentration and in the … and … of Ca²⁺ … waves are reported in disorders such as …, … and …

additionally … functioning of … has been reported after … insults and … … injury

intracellular calcium, duration and amplitude, transient, epilepsy, AD and stroke

anomalous, connexons, ischemic, traumatic brain

the astrocytic syncytium serves as a … … pathway for … flow, particularly essential for functions like … buffering after intense neuronal activity

low resistance, ion, potassium

by … signals and … the chemical environment, the astrocytic syncytium acts as an … unit that protects neuronal circuits against excessive … and maintains … …

integrating, modulating, integrative, excitation, CNS homeostasis

dysfunction or developmental impairment of the astrocytic syncytium has implications for brain disorders involving … malfunctions such as … and …

glial, epilepsy and neurodegeneration

the astrocytic syncytium is a foundational feature of glial biology enabling … and … responses to maintain … … function and … across the …

rapid and collective, neuronal circuit, stability, CNS