The goals of this project are to understand the structural and functional properties of neurotransmitter receptor ion channels in glia and their physiological role during development. The receptors being studied are those for the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, glutamic acid. Cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage at different developmental stages are used for molecular, cellular, and biophysical studies. The finding that glial cells express receptor ion channels greatly increases the complexity of the cellular elements that can respond to classical neurotransmitters, because the ratio between glial cells and neurons in the central nervous system is approximately 10:1. Because for the close anatomical relationship between neurons and glia both in the developing and in the mature central nervous system, these cells are very likely to be affected by glutamate in the intact brain. Therefore, glial cells, as well as neurons, may play an important role in the pathophysiology of stroke and cerebral anoxia. Additionally, glutamate and its receptors may be involved in glial cell development. This would have very important consequences for the physiology of the mature brain, in which glial cells perform crucial functions, such as myelination, neurotransmitter receptor function in glia will greatly help to elucidate the function of these cells during development and in the adult brain and will uncover new aspects of brain function.
| Gallo, V; Ghiani, C A (2000) Glutamate receptors in glia: new cells, new inputs and new functions. Trends Pharmacol Sci 21:252-8 |
| Ghiani, C A; Yuan, X; Eisen, A M et al. (1999) Voltage-activated K+ channels and membrane depolarization regulate accumulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27(Kip1) and p21(CIP1) in glial progenitor cells. J Neurosci 19:5380-92 |
