Evidence for alterations of the glial syncytial function in major depressive disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Glial cells are essential in maintaining synaptic function. In glutamatergic synapses astrocytes remove the products of neural activity, (i.e. potassium, glutamate and excess water) from the synaptic cleft and redistribute them across the glial network; these products of neural activity can then be recycled for neuronal use or released into the vascular compartment. This type of highly coupled cell network -or syncytium-maintains the balance of synaptic activity by restoring the basal levels of such molecules in the synaptic cleft. Previous studies have reported alterations of glia related genes in Major Depressive Disorder, including some genes related to syncytial function.

Methods

We used RNA isolated from hippocampal tissues of 13 MDD subjects and 10 healthy c

SUBMITTER: Medina A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5813495 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature