It is widely accepted that glutamate-mediated neuronal hyperexcitation plays a causative
role in eliciting seizures. Among glutamate receptors, the roles of N-methyl-D-aspartate …

Animal behavior was classically considered to be determined exclusively by neuronal
activity, whereas surrounding glial cells such as astrocytes played only supportive roles …

Astrocytes comprise a large population of cells in the brain and are important partners to
neighboring neurons, vascular cells, and other glial cells. Astrocytes not only form a scaffold …

Several neurodegenerative disorders involve impaired neurotransmission, and
glutamatergic neurotransmission sets a prototypical example. Glutamate is a predominant …

Astrocytes, the most numerous glial cells in the brain, play an important role in preserving
normal neural functions and mediating the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Recent …

Activation of purinergic receptors in the spinal cord by extracellular ATP is essential for
neuropathic hypersensitivity after peripheral nerve injury (PNI). However, the cell type …

Almost fifty years after its first introduction into clinical care, clozapine remains the only
evidence-based pharmacological option for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), which …

Connexins are widely distributed proteins in the body that are crucially important for heart
and brain functions. Six connexin subunits form a connexon or hemichannel in the plasma …

Gap junctions are specialized cell-to-cell contacts that allow the direct transfer of small
molecules between cells. A single gap junction channel consists of two hemichannels, or …

Astrocytes contribute to the formation, function, and plasticity of synapses. Their processes
enwrap the neuronal components of the tripartite synapse, and due to this close interaction …