Neighboring Neurons Dictate the Role of Astrocytes (1 of 2) (IMAGE)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Neighboring Neurons Dictate the Role of Astrocytes (1 of 2)

Caption

Microscope image showing the intimate association between Bergmann glia and Purkinje neurons in the mouse cerebellar cortex. Bergmann glia (green) are specialized astrocytes that support Purkinje neurons (magenta) and their circuits. Purkinje neurons release a protein called Sonic Hedgehog to instruct Bergmann glia to take on their characteristic molecular and physiological properties. Loss of Bergmann glia support leads to dysfunction of Purkinje neurons and their circuits. This material relates to a paper that appeared in the Feb. 19, 2016, issue of Science, published by AAAS. The paper, by W.T. Farmer at Montreal General Hospital in Montreal, QC, Canada, and colleagues was titled, 'Neurons diversify astrocytes in the adult brain through sonic hedgehog signaling.'

Credit

Todd Farmer, McGill University Health Centre

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