Glutamatergic signaling between neurons and oligodendrocyte lineage cells: Is it synaptic or non-synaptic?

摘要: Fast chemical synaptic transmission is a major form of neuronal communication in the nervous system mammals. Another important, but very different, intercellular volume transmission, which slower non-synaptic signaling. The amino acid glutamate most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter system, mediates both and signaling via ionotropic metabotropic receptors. Intriguingly, neurons establish glutamatergic synapses also with oligodendrocyte precursor cells (NG2+ -glia). Moreover, activity receptors play an important role development functionality oligodendrocytes their precursors vivo. Yet, molecular characteristics functional significance neuron-glia remain poorly understood, it unclear how mediate effects on lineage cells. In this review, we discuss what known regard to between cells, can be suggested based current state knowledge, fully unknown requires new research.