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Astrocytes: Pharmacology and Function
40 Heilig, M. and Murison, R. (1987) Eur. J. Pharmacol. 137, 127-12 41 Heilig,M., S6derpalm,B., Engel,J. A. and Widerl6v, E. (1989) Psychopharmacology 98, 524-529 42 Heilig,M., McLeod, S., Koob, G. F. and Britton, K. T. (1992) Reg. Pept. 41, 61-69 43 Stanley, B. G. (1993) in The Biology of Neuropeptide Y (Colmers, W. F. and Wahlestedt, C., eds), pp. 457-509, Humana Press 44 Heilig, M. et al. (1993) Neuropsychopharmacology 8, 357-363 45 Grunclemar, L., Sheikh, S. P. and Wahlestedt, C. (1993) in The Biology of Neuropeptide Y (Colmers, W. F. and Wahlesteclt, C., eds), pp. 197-239, Humana Press 46 Fuhlendorff, J. et al. (1990) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 87, 182-186 47 Akhtar, S. and Juliano, R. L. (1992) Trends Cell Biol. 2, 139-144 48 Wahlestedt, C., Pich, E. M., Koob, G. F., Yee, F. and Heilig, M. (1993) Science 259, 528-531 49 Widerl6v, E., Lindstr6m, L. H., Wahlestedt, C. and Ekman, R.
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(1988) J. Psychiat. Res. 22, 69-79 50 Heilig, M., Wahlestedt, C., Ekman, R. and WiderlOv, E. (1988) Eur. J. Pharmacol. 147, 465--467 51 Wahlestedt, C. et al. (1990) Brain Res. 507, 65--68 52 Theodorsson,E., MathE,A. A. and Stenfors,C. (1990) Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiat. 14, 387-407 53 Widdowson, P. S., Ordway, G. A. and Halaris,A. E. (1992) J. Neurochem. 59, 73-80 54 Berettini,W. H., Doran, A. R., Kelsoe,J., Roy,A. and Pickar, D. (1987) Neuropsychopharmacol. 1, 81-83 55 Bellman, R. and Sperk, G. (1993) Neurochem. InL 22, 183-187 56 Kataoka, Y. et al. (1987) Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 28, 101-103 57 Markou, A. and Koob, G. F. (1991) Neuropsychopharmacology 4, 17-26 58 Wahlestedt, C. et al. (1991) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 88, 2078-2082 59 McEwen,B. S. et aL (1992) Biol. PsychiaL 31, 177-199 60 Pich,E. M. et aL (1993) Neuroscience 55, 695-707 61 Drevets,W. C. etal. (1992)J. Neurosci. 12, 3628-3641
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Astrocytes: Pharmacology and Function
need for a new book on the structure and function of glial cells.
edited by J. Murphy, Academic Press, 1993. £75.00 (xx + 457pages) ISBN 0 12511370 6
Astrocytes: Pharmacology and Function is a welcome step in
helping to fill this void. It is not a comprehensive account on all The majority of cells in the CNS of aspects of astrocyte biology or mammals, including humans, are function, but focuses on the interglial cells. Three major classes of action between astrocytes and glia can be distinguished, namely other cells in the brain. It has a microglial cells, oligodendrocytes strong emphasis on the pharmaand astrocytes. Despite the fact cological aspects of receptor that all three glial elements were interactions, thus making it valurecognized by anatomists early able particularly for neuropharmain this century, neuroscience cologists and molecular biologists research has focused, until re- interested in the contribution of cently, on the neuronal elements. astrocytes to brain signaling. In the first chapter, the lineage However, the last decade has yielded a large body of evidence and morphology of astrocytes indicating that glial cells, in is introduced by Levison and particular astrocytes, can interact Goldman. The presence of only with all brain cell types through a one figure in this chapter reflects variety of receptors, signaling a weakness of the book, namely and cell-recognition molecules. the paucity of illustrations. There These studies have been facili- are even chapters which contain tated by the availability of new no illustrations. Moreover, most methodology of cell biology, in- of the figures presented show cluding the patch-clamp tech- exclusively original data rather nique, cell identification using than schemes that would illusimmunocytochemical markers, trate general mechanisms or molecular-biological techniques functional speculations. and cell-culture protocols for The strong part of the book is purifying glial subpopulations. its focus on the interaction of Two new insights have par- astrocytes with their neighboring ticularly attracted the interest cells, including neurons, oligoof neuroscientists: molecular bi- dendrocytes and endothelial cells. ologists now realize that many In the first part, the astrocyte is gene products isolated from the viewed as a target cell. The signal brain are of glial origin, including cascade is followed from the receptors, carriers and enzymes, properties of receptors of the and neuropathologists have come plasma membrane to the actito realize that all diseases or vation of early response genes. insults to the brain affect glial-cell These chapters represent the best function. In the context of these account of the. subject published important developments, there is so far. This section is compTINS, Vol. 17, No. 2, 1994
.
Acknow/ed&ements Theskilfulhelpof EwaEriksonin prepanngthe figures
~sgr.tefully acknowledged. The authors wishto thank numerouscolleagues and collaboratorsfor theircontributions, reviewedin the text. Work by M.H. and R.E.issponsoredin part by grants from the SwedishMRC; G.F.K.,by N/DDK; and K.TB. by a VA Merit Award.
b o o k s lemented by a short description of the voltage-gated channels seen in astrocytes. The description of the astrocyte's influence on the neuronal population in the second section is the weakest part of the book. The chapters are not well focused on the subject, but rather have a broader scope; for example, they describe neuropeptide expression and the regulation of glycogen metabolism in astrocytes. Important aspects of the interaction of astrocytes with neurons are only superficially touched on, such as cell interaction via extracellular matrix or cell-adhesion molecules. In contrast, in the last section, the interaction of astrocytes with other brain cells are elaborated in a clearly focused manner. This section includes a chapter on the properties of astrocytic gliomas. This book also reflects the present dilemma in glial research. Most studies have been performed in tissue culture or on isolated cells. Thus, these studies can show up the possible repertoire of astrocytes, but will not answer the question of how these cells respond in the complex environment of the brain in vivo. In summary, I recommend this book to neuroscientists interested in the contribution of astrocytes to brain function. While it does not cover the entire field of astrocyte biology, the individual chapters are written by experts in the field and provide an excellent starting point from which to evaluate the large body of literature on these fascinating cells of the CNS.
Helmut Kettenmann Dept of Neurobiology, Universityof Heidelberg,Im NeuenheimerFeld 345, 69120 Heidelberg,Germany, andMax-Ddbr[~ckCentrumf~r molekulareMedizin, Robert-R6ssle-Strasse 10, 13122Berlin, Germany.
85
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(1988) J. Psychiat. Res. 22, 69-79 50 Heilig, M., Wahlestedt, C., Ekman, R. and WiderlOv, E. (1988) Eur. J. Pharmacol. 147, 465--467 51 Wahlestedt, C. et al. (1990) Brain Res. 507, 65--68 52 Theodorsson,E., MathE,A. A. and Stenfors,C. (1990) Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiat. 14, 387-407 53 Widdowson, P. S., Ordway, G. A. and Halaris,A. E. (1992) J. Neurochem. 59, 73-80 54 Berettini,W. H., Doran, A. R., Kelsoe,J., Roy,A. and Pickar, D. (1987) Neuropsychopharmacol. 1, 81-83 55 Bellman, R. and Sperk, G. (1993) Neurochem. InL 22, 183-187 56 Kataoka, Y. et al. (1987) Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 28, 101-103 57 Markou, A. and Koob, G. F. (1991) Neuropsychopharmacology 4, 17-26 58 Wahlestedt, C. et al. (1991) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 88, 2078-2082 59 McEwen,B. S. et aL (1992) Biol. PsychiaL 31, 177-199 60 Pich,E. M. et aL (1993) Neuroscience 55, 695-707 61 Drevets,W. C. etal. (1992)J. Neurosci. 12, 3628-3641
.
.
.
Astrocytes: Pharmacology and Function
need for a new book on the structure and function of glial cells.
edited by J. Murphy, Academic Press, 1993. £75.00 (xx + 457pages) ISBN 0 12511370 6
Astrocytes: Pharmacology and Function is a welcome step in
helping to fill this void. It is not a comprehensive account on all The majority of cells in the CNS of aspects of astrocyte biology or mammals, including humans, are function, but focuses on the interglial cells. Three major classes of action between astrocytes and glia can be distinguished, namely other cells in the brain. It has a microglial cells, oligodendrocytes strong emphasis on the pharmaand astrocytes. Despite the fact cological aspects of receptor that all three glial elements were interactions, thus making it valurecognized by anatomists early able particularly for neuropharmain this century, neuroscience cologists and molecular biologists research has focused, until re- interested in the contribution of cently, on the neuronal elements. astrocytes to brain signaling. In the first chapter, the lineage However, the last decade has yielded a large body of evidence and morphology of astrocytes indicating that glial cells, in is introduced by Levison and particular astrocytes, can interact Goldman. The presence of only with all brain cell types through a one figure in this chapter reflects variety of receptors, signaling a weakness of the book, namely and cell-recognition molecules. the paucity of illustrations. There These studies have been facili- are even chapters which contain tated by the availability of new no illustrations. Moreover, most methodology of cell biology, in- of the figures presented show cluding the patch-clamp tech- exclusively original data rather nique, cell identification using than schemes that would illusimmunocytochemical markers, trate general mechanisms or molecular-biological techniques functional speculations. and cell-culture protocols for The strong part of the book is purifying glial subpopulations. its focus on the interaction of Two new insights have par- astrocytes with their neighboring ticularly attracted the interest cells, including neurons, oligoof neuroscientists: molecular bi- dendrocytes and endothelial cells. ologists now realize that many In the first part, the astrocyte is gene products isolated from the viewed as a target cell. The signal brain are of glial origin, including cascade is followed from the receptors, carriers and enzymes, properties of receptors of the and neuropathologists have come plasma membrane to the actito realize that all diseases or vation of early response genes. insults to the brain affect glial-cell These chapters represent the best function. In the context of these account of the. subject published important developments, there is so far. This section is compTINS, Vol. 17, No. 2, 1994
.
Acknow/ed&ements Theskilfulhelpof EwaEriksonin prepanngthe figures
~sgr.tefully acknowledged. The authors wishto thank numerouscolleagues and collaboratorsfor theircontributions, reviewedin the text. Work by M.H. and R.E.issponsoredin part by grants from the SwedishMRC; G.F.K.,by N/DDK; and K.TB. by a VA Merit Award.
b o o k s lemented by a short description of the voltage-gated channels seen in astrocytes. The description of the astrocyte's influence on the neuronal population in the second section is the weakest part of the book. The chapters are not well focused on the subject, but rather have a broader scope; for example, they describe neuropeptide expression and the regulation of glycogen metabolism in astrocytes. Important aspects of the interaction of astrocytes with neurons are only superficially touched on, such as cell interaction via extracellular matrix or cell-adhesion molecules. In contrast, in the last section, the interaction of astrocytes with other brain cells are elaborated in a clearly focused manner. This section includes a chapter on the properties of astrocytic gliomas. This book also reflects the present dilemma in glial research. Most studies have been performed in tissue culture or on isolated cells. Thus, these studies can show up the possible repertoire of astrocytes, but will not answer the question of how these cells respond in the complex environment of the brain in vivo. In summary, I recommend this book to neuroscientists interested in the contribution of astrocytes to brain function. While it does not cover the entire field of astrocyte biology, the individual chapters are written by experts in the field and provide an excellent starting point from which to evaluate the large body of literature on these fascinating cells of the CNS.
Helmut Kettenmann Dept of Neurobiology, Universityof Heidelberg,Im NeuenheimerFeld 345, 69120 Heidelberg,Germany, andMax-Ddbr[~ckCentrumf~r molekulareMedizin, Robert-R6ssle-Strasse 10, 13122Berlin, Germany.
85