Morphogenesis and regulation of Bergmann glial processes during Purkinje cell dendritic spine ensheathment and synaptogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Astrocytes have an important role in synaptic formation and function but how astrocytic processes become associated with synaptic structures during development is not well understood. Here we analyzed the pattern of growth of the processes extending off the main Bergmann glial (BG) shafts during synaptogenesis in the cerebellum. We found that during this period, BG process outgrowth was correlated with increased ensheathment of dendritic spines. In addition, two-photon time-lapse imaging revealed that BG processes were highly dynamic, and processes became more stable as the period of spine ensheathment progressed. While process motility was dependent on actin polymerization, activity of cytoskeletal regulators Rac1 and RhoG did not play a role in glial process dynamics or density, but was

SUBMITTER: Lippman JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2637407 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature