The Glial Perspective on Sleep and Circadian Rhythms

While neurons and circuits are almost unequivocally considered to be the computational units and actuators of behavior, a complete understanding of the nervous system must incorporate glial cells. Far beyond a copious but passive substrate, glial influence is inextricable from neuronal physiology, whether during developmental guidance and synaptic shaping or through the trophic support, neurotransmitter and ion homeostasis, cytokine signaling and immune function, and debris engulfment contributions that this class provides throughout an organism's life. With such essential functions, among a growing literature of nuanced roles, it follows that glia are consequential to behavior in adult animals, with novel genetic tools allowing for the investigation of these phenomena in living organisms. We discuss here the relevance of glia for maintaining circadian rhythms and also for serving functions of sleep.

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Neuron-glia relationship during the early postembryonic development of the nervous system in some oligochaetes

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100083874 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 600-601

Author(s):

Wiktor Djaczenko ◽

Carmen Calenda Cimmino

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Glial Cells ◽

Early Period ◽

Postembryonic Development ◽

Ruthenium Red ◽

The Body ◽

Tubifex Tubifex ◽

Growth Stages ◽

Cell Processes ◽

Cytoplasmic Processes

The simplicity of the developing nervous system of oligochaetes makes of it an excellent model for the study of the relationships between glia and neurons. In the present communication we describe the relationships between glia and neurons in the early periods of post-embryonic development in some species of oligochaetes.Tubifex tubifex (Mull. ) and Octolasium complanatum (Dugès) specimens starting from 0. 3 mm of body length were collected from laboratory cultures divided into three groups each group fixed separately by one of the following methods: (a) 4% glutaraldehyde and 1% acrolein fixation followed by osmium tetroxide, (b) TAPO technique, (c) ruthenium red method.Our observations concern the early period of the postembryonic development of the nervous system in oligochaetes. During this period neurons occupy fixed positions in the body the only observable change being the increase in volume of their perikaryons. Perikaryons of glial cells were located at some distance from neurons. Long cytoplasmic processes of glial cells tended to approach the neurons. The superimposed contours of glial cell processes designed from electron micrographs, taken at the same magnification, typical for five successive growth stages of the nervous system of Octolasium complanatum are shown in Fig. 1. Neuron is designed symbolically to facilitate the understanding of the kinetics of the growth process.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Glial cells in the mouse enteric nervous system can undergo neurogenesis in response to injury.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.13357405.14726825 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Tor Savidge

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Enteric Nervous System ◽

Glial Cells

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Neural Stem Cells to Glial Cells an Important Factor for Brain Injury

Journal of Regenerative Biology and Medicine ◽

10.37191/mapsci-2582-385x-2(3)-025 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Prithiv K R Kumar

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Neural Stem Cells ◽

Glial Cells ◽

Brain Injuries ◽

The Body ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Near Future

Stem cells have the capacity to differentiate into any type of cell or organ. Stems cell originate from any part of the body, including the brain. Brain cells or rather neural stem cells have the capacitive advantage of differentiating into the central nervous system leading to the formation of neurons and glial cells. Neural stem cells should have a source by editing DNA, or by mixings chemical enzymes of iPSCs. By this method, a limitless number of neuron stem cells can be obtained. Increase in supply of NSCs help in repairing glial cells which in-turn heal the central nervous system. Generally, brain injuries cause motor and sensory deficits leading to stroke. With all trials from novel therapeutic methods to enhanced rehabilitation time, the economy and quality of life is suppressed. Only PSCs have proven effective for grafting cells into NSCs. Neurons derived from stem cells is the only challenge that limits in-vitro usage in the near future.

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Glial Cells in the Auditory Brainstem

The Oxford Handbook of the Auditory Brainstem ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190849061.013.18 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 680-706

Author(s):

Giedre Milinkeviciute ◽

Karina S. Cramer

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Glial Cells ◽

Sound Localization ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Synaptic Function ◽

System Function ◽

Auditory Neurons ◽

System P ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System Function

The auditory brainstem carries out sound localization functions that require an extraordinary degree of precision. While many of the specializations needed for these functions reside in auditory neurons, additional adaptations are made possible by the functions of glial cells. Astrocytes, once thought to have mainly a supporting role in nervous system function, are now known to participate in synaptic function. In the auditory brainstem, they contribute to development of specialized synapses and to mature synaptic function. Oligodendrocytes play critical roles in regulating timing in sound localization circuitry. Microglia enter the central nervous system early in development, and also have important functions in the auditory system’s response to injury. This chapter highlights the unique functions of these non-neuronal cells in the auditory system.

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On the Role of Glial Cells in the Mammalian Nervous System

Journal of Biological Chemistry ◽

10.1016/s0021-9258(19)42854-8 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 249 (6) ◽

pp. 1769-1780

Author(s):

Bruce K. Schrier ◽

Edward J. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Glial Cells

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Brain Long Noncoding RNAs: Multitask Regulators of Neuronal Differentiation and Function

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26133951 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (13) ◽

pp. 3951

Author(s):

Sarva Keihani ◽

Verena Kluever ◽

Eugenio F. Fornasiero

Keyword(s):

Neuronal Differentiation ◽

Neuronal Excitability ◽

Noncoding Rnas ◽

Long Noncoding Rnas ◽

Regulatory Mechanisms ◽

Control Robustness ◽

Living Organisms ◽

And Function ◽

Regulatory Functions ◽

Neuronal Physiology

The extraordinary cellular diversity and the complex connections established within different cells types render the nervous system of vertebrates one of the most sophisticated tissues found in living organisms. Such complexity is ensured by numerous regulatory mechanisms that provide tight spatiotemporal control, robustness and reliability. While the unusual abundance of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in nervous tissues was traditionally puzzling, it is becoming clear that these molecules have genuine regulatory functions in the brain and they are essential for neuronal physiology. The canonical view of RNA as predominantly a ‘coding molecule’ has been largely surpassed, together with the conception that lncRNAs only represent ‘waste material’ produced by cells as a side effect of pervasive transcription. Here we review a growing body of evidence showing that lncRNAs play key roles in several regulatory mechanisms of neurons and other brain cells. In particular, neuronal lncRNAs are crucial for orchestrating neurogenesis, for tuning neuronal differentiation and for the exact calibration of neuronal excitability. Moreover, their diversity and the association to neurodegenerative diseases render them particularly interesting as putative biomarkers for brain disease. Overall, we foresee that in the future a more systematic scrutiny of lncRNA functions will be instrumental for an exhaustive understanding of neuronal pathophysiology.

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Murine Esophagus Expresses Glial-Derived Central Nervous System Antigens

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22063233 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 3233

Author(s):

Christopher Kapitza ◽

Rittika Chunder ◽

Anja Scheller ◽

Katherine S. Given ◽

Wendy B. Macklin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Schwann Cells ◽

Glial Cells ◽

Proteolipid Protein ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Specific Expression ◽

Enteric Glial Cells ◽

Cell Type Specific Expression ◽

Long Time

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been considered to specifically affect the central nervous system (CNS) for a long time. As autonomic dysfunction including dysphagia can occur as accompanying phenomena in patients, the enteric nervous system has been attracting increasing attention over the past years. The aim of this study was to identify glial and myelin markers as potential target structures for autoimmune processes in the esophagus. RT-PCR analysis revealed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), proteolipid protein (PLP), and myelin basic protein (MBP) expression, but an absence of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) in the murine esophagus. Selected immunohistochemistry for GFAP, PLP, and MBP including transgenic mice with cell-type specific expression of PLP and GFAP supported these results by detection of (1) GFAP, PLP, and MBP in Schwann cells in skeletal muscle and esophagus; (2) GFAP, PLP, but no MBP in perisynaptic Schwann cells of skeletal and esophageal motor endplates; (3) GFAP and PLP, but no MBP in glial cells surrounding esophageal myenteric neurons; and (4) PLP, but no GFAP and MBP in enteric glial cells forming a network in the esophagus. Our results pave the way for further investigations regarding the involvement of esophageal glial cells in the pathogenesis of dysphagia in MS.

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