星形胶质细胞在中枢感觉信息处理中的作用

在哺乳动物的中枢神经系统中,存在两种神经细胞——神经元和胶质细胞.对于神经元的结构及其在信息处理和传递中的功能已经有了广泛而深入的研究,并且对其机制也了解得比较清楚.而相对于神经元来说,胶质细胞是否以及怎样参与神经信息的整合、传输,还没有很系统的研究.因为胶质细胞本身的电惰性,接受电刺激或机械刺激后不能像神经元那样发生动作电位,因此,很长一段时期内人们都认为胶质细胞的主要作用是支持和营养神经元,本身不具备信息传递和处理的功能.近年来大量研究发现,胶质细胞和神经元一起共同参与神经系统中各项功能活动的调控.胶质细胞,特别是星形胶质细胞在各种信息处理中起着重要作用.文中以星形胶质细胞在中枢感觉信息处理中的作用为主题作一综述.

Role of astrocytes in sensory processing in central nervous system

There are two types of cells in the central nervous systems(CNS) of mammals-neurons and glia.The structure and function of neurons have been thoroughly studied;while the role of glia in information processing has not been systematically studied because they cannot produce action potentials like neuron.During the past decades,glial cells were considered to play a supportive role in CNS instead of information processing.Recently,a variety of studies suggest that glial cells are actively involved in the regula...