Control of Synapse Number by Glia

TLDR

Astrocytes make up nearly half of brain cells, yet their role remains poorly understood. The study aims to determine whether glial cells are necessary for synapse formation and maturation. The authors used quantal analyses, FM1‑43 imaging, immunostaining, and electron microscopy to assess synapse development in the absence of glial cells. Astrocytes increase mature, functional synapse numbers on CNS neurons sevenfold, are essential for synaptic maintenance in vitro, and their presence coincides with synapse generation in vivo, revealing a novel glial role in inducing, stabilizing, and potentially regulating CNS synaptic plasticity.

Abstract

Although astrocytes constitute nearly half of the cells in our brain, their function is a long-standing neurobiological mystery. Here we show by quantal analyses, FM1-43 imaging, immunostaining, and electron microscopy that few synapses form in the absence of glial cells and that the few synapses that do form are functionally immature. Astrocytes increase the number of mature, functional synapses on central nervous system (CNS) neurons by sevenfold and are required for synaptic maintenance in vitro. We also show that most synapses are generated concurrently with the development of glia in vivo. These data demonstrate a previously unknown function for glia in inducing and stabilizing CNS synapses, show that CNS synapse number can be profoundly regulated by nonneuronal signals, and raise the possibility that glia may actively participate in synaptic plasticity.