Although they were originally considered mere support cells for neurons (
1
), it is now apparent that glia, particularly astrocytes, are capable of synthesizing
and releasing both amino acid and purinergic transmitters and can bidirectly communicate
with neurons (
2
). So named for their star shape, astrocytic regulation of excitatory synaptic transmission
and neuroplasticity by the modulation of synaptic and extrasynaptic glutamate is particularly
well documented (
2
). As such, research concerning how genetic and environmental factors interact to
influence astrocyte function in vivo is vital to our understanding of the basic cellular
biology of the nervous system, as well as the contribution of anomalous gliotransmission
to nervous system disorders. In this issue of Biological Psychiatry, Scofield et al. (
3
) extend current knowledge regarding drug-induced changes in glutamate gliotransmission
(
4
,
5
) through analyses of astrocyte expression and structural characteristics within the
core subregion of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in rats with a history of intravenous
cocaine self-administration and extinction of their operant behavior.To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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References
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- Cocaine self-administration and extinction leads to reduced glial fibrillary acidic protein expression and morphometric features of astrocytes in the nucleus accumbens core.Biol Psychiatry. 2016; 80: 207-215
- Astrocytic dysfunction and addiction: Consequences of impaired glutamate homeostasis.Neuroscientist. 2014; 20: 610-622
- Rat nucleus accumbens core astrocytes modulate reward and the motivation to self-administer ethanol after abstinence.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014; 39: 2835-2845
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- Neurotransmitter signaling in white matter.Glia. 2014; 62: 1762-1779
- Forebrain astroglial plasticity is induced following withdrawal from repeated cocaine administration.Eur J Neurosci. 2003; 17: 1273-1278
- Region-specific alterations in glutamate receptor expression and subcellular distribution following extinction of cocaine self-administration.Brain Res. 2009; 1267: 89-102
- Extinction training after cocaine self-administration induces glutamatergic plasticity to inhibit cocaine seeking.J Neurosci. 2010; 30: 7984-7992
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 6,
2016
Received:
June 3,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Society of Biological Psychiatry.
ScienceDirect
Access this article on ScienceDirectLinked Article
- Cocaine Self-Administration and Extinction Leads to Reduced Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Expression and Morphometric Features of Astrocytes in the Nucleus Accumbens CoreBiological PsychiatryVol. 80Issue 3
- PreviewAs a more detailed picture of nervous system function emerges, diversity of astrocyte function becomes more widely appreciated. While it has been shown that cocaine experience impairs astroglial glutamate uptake and release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), few studies have explored effects of self-administration on the structure and physiology of astrocytes. We investigated the effects of extinction from daily cocaine self-administration on astrocyte characteristics including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression, surface area, volume, and colocalization with a synaptic marker.
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