Glia-neuron interactions: roles in axonal pathfinding and synaptic physiology in an invertebrate model

动物所有的神经系统功能都是由脑细胞网络控制的，脑细胞网络通过称为“突触”的特殊结构进行交流。神经元间突触传递的扰动是所有脑功能障碍的基础。传统上认为突触传递发生在突触前神经元和它的突触后靶点之间，涉及一个双部突触。然而，最近的研究表明，神经胶质细胞在神经系统中发挥着许多重要的功能作用，而以前人们认为神经胶质细胞只对神经元提供物理支持。例如，如果没有它们，不仅神经元无法到达它们的确切目标，而且它们的突触传递也会失败。然而，胶质细胞在这些过程中的确切参与及其潜在机制在很大程度上仍然未知。利用模型系统方法，本研究将为-à-vis神经胶质参与神经导向目标及其在突触生理学中的精确作用提供直接证据。我们相信这些研究将为神经胶质细胞在正常和病理条件下影响神经系统发育和功能的机制提供直接的见解。

All nervous system functions in animal are controlled by networks of brain cells which communicate through specialized structures termed 'synapses'. Perturbation of synaptic transmission between neurons is the basis for all brain dysfunctions. Traditionally, it was presumed that the synaptic transmission occurred between a presynaptic neuron and its postsynaptic target involving a bipartite synapse. However, recent studies have indicated that the glial cells - which were previously thought to provide physical support to neurons only - play many important functional roles in the nervous system. For instance, in their absence not only do neurons fail to reach out to their exact targets but also that their synaptic transmission fails. The precise involvement of glia in these processes and the underlying mechanisms remain however largely unknown. Using a model system approach, this study will provide the direct evidence vis-à-vis the involvement of glial in nerve guidance towards its targets and also their precise role in synaptic physiology. We believe that these studies will provide direct insights into the mechanisms by which glia affect nervous system development and function under both normal various and pathological conditions.