Affiliations: Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff
University, Museum Avenue, P.O. Box 911, Cardiff CF10 3US, UK
Note: [] Correspondence to: Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences,
Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, P.O. Box 911, Cardiff CF10 3US, UK. Tel.:
+44 29 2087 5197; Fax: +44 29 2087 6749; E-mail: gatesma@cf.ac.uk;
dunnett@cf.ac.uk.
Note: [] Correspondence to: Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences,
Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, P.O. Box 911, Cardiff CF10 3US, UK. Tel.:
+44 29 2087 5197; Fax: +44 29 2087 6749; E-mail: gatesma@cf.ac.uk;
dunnett@cf.ac.uk.
Abstract: Over the past few decades astrocytes have emerged from being
considered simple packing tissue in the brain to become major players in the
development, survival and functioning of central nervous system (CNS) neurons.
As the influence that astrocytes (and the various molecules they produce) have
on the development of CNS neurons becomes more evident, it will be important to
consider how this information can be exploited to bring about better
protection, recovery and/or regeneration of circuits which are destroyed in the
adult CNS due to trauma or com-mon neurodegenerative episodes. Although the
characterisation of astrocytic responses to brain injuries, neurodegenerative
disease, and cell transplantation are becoming more common, we still known
little about how astrocytes influence the (re)growth or reconstruction of
neural cir-cuitry after the development period is ended, or indeed what is the
overall impact of an astrocytic presence on the growth of neurons in the adult
CNS. With the major hurdle of recognition of the importance astrocytes in the
function and recovery of the adult CNS now cleared, a new chapter in the
development of powerful new treatments for CNS disorders and injuries is now
open. The following is a brief review of what we know about how astrocytes
influence the growth and connectivity of the nigrostriatal circuit during
development, and how these cells may affect efforts to reform this circuit
after its destruction/degeneration in the adult CNS (as commonly
happens in Parkinsons disease). As we obtain more information on the
specific influence of these cells in various developmental, traumatic and
disease events we can expect to find better ways toward combating major
disorders of the human CNS.
