Author/Editor		Zorec, Robert; Verkhratsky, Alexei; Rodríguez, José J.; Parpura, Vladimir
Title		Astrocytes
Type		članek
Publication year		2015
ISSN		0306-4522 - Neuroscience
Language		eng
Abstract		Neurotransmitters released at synapses activate neighboring astrocytes, which in turn, modulate neuronal activity by the release of diverse neuroactive substances that include classical neurotransmitters such as glutamate, GABA or ATP. Neuroactive substances are released from astrocytes through several distinct molecular mechanisms, for example, by diffusion through membrane channels, by translocation by plasmalemmal transporters or by vesicular exocytosis. Vesicular release regulated by a stimulus-mediated increase in cytosolic calcium involves SNARE-dependent merger of vesicle membrane with the plasmalemma. Up to 25 molecules of synaptobrevin 2, a SNARE complex protein, appear clustered at a single astroglial vesicle. These proteins determine the properties of the fusion pore, an aqueous channel that forms a pathway for the discharge of the vesicular content into the extracellular space. Several types of vesicles storing amino acids, peptides and ATP are present in astrocytes. In the present essay we shall overview multiple aspects of vesicular architecture and their dynamics in astroglial cells.
Keywords		exocytosis astrocytes glutamate eksocitoza astrociti glutamat