Author/Editor		Verkhratsky, Alexei; Rodríguez, José J.; Parpura, Vladimir
Title		Neuroglia in ageing and disease
Type		članek
Vol. and No.		Letnik 357
Publication year		2014
Volume		str. 493-503
ISSN		0302-766X - Cell and tissue research
Language		eng
Abstract		The proper operation of the mammalian brain requires dynamic interactions between neurones and glial cells. Various types of glial cells are susceptible to morphofunctional changes in a variety of brain pathological states, including toxicity, neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Morphological modifications include a change in the glial cell size and shape; the latter is evident by changes of the appearance and number of peripheral processes. The most blatant morphological change is associated with the alteration of the sheer number of neuroglia cells in the brain. Functionally, glial cells can undergo various metabolic and biochemical changes, the majority of which reflect upon homeostasis of neurotransmitters, in particular that of glutamate, as well as on defence mechanisms provided by neuroglia. Not only glial cells exhibit changes associated with the pathology of the brain but they also change with brain aging.
Keywords		neuroglia astrocyte microglia ageing neurological diseases Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration