A first morphological and electrophysiological characterization of Fananas cells of the mouse cerebellum.

ABSTRACT: Fañanas cells (FCs) are cerebellar glia of unknown function. First described more than a century ago, they have been almost absent from the scientific literature ever since. Here, we combined whole-cell, patch clamp recordings, near-UV laser photolysis, dye-loading and confocal imaging for a first characterization of FCs in terms of their morphology, electrophysiology and glutamate-evoked currents. We identified FCs of the molecular layer in cerebellar slices by their stubby process and small cell bodies. Despite their more compact shape compared to Bergmann glia (BGs), FCs showed similar membrane resistances and basal currents, suggesting that these passive currents are partly a result of electrical coupling between neighbouring glia. Dye filling and pharmacological experiments confirmed

SUBMITTER: Singer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11826065 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature