Central Nervous System: A Case Study

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There are different types of glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS). Different kinds of glia have different shapes and functions (e.g. in the extent of electrical coupling between them, spatial buffering of extracellular potassium, transport of glutamate and attachment to vessels) (1).The major types of glia in the CNS include astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells and microglia (2) . Based on close proximity to neurons, Golgi proposed glial cells nourish the neurons and are involved in signal transduction from blood to neurons. Glia play key functions, for instance, astrocytes play an essential role in the removal of synaptic glutamate, neuronal path finding, and the sequestration and redistribution of K+ during neural activity (3,4). …show more content…
Astrocytic processes surround all capillaries (perivascular feet). Oligodendrocytes have rounded condensed nuclei with unstained cytoplasm due to poorly stained Golgi complexes which they contain in abundance (2). Oligodendrocytes myelinate parts of axons. Ependymal cells are epithelial- like cells which line the ventricles and central canal. Microglial cells have phagocytic, protective and immune related capacities (2) (Figure 1). Microglia are the resident tissue macrophage of the CNS and play dual roles considering CNS homeostasis during health and cross-regulating astrocytic functions following brain injury and infection (5). Another glial cell described by Golgi is Bergmann glia (BG) (also called Golgi epithelial cells or radial epithelial cells) in the cerebellum (6). Recently, it has been reported that NG2þ cells (nerve/glial antigen2) which is a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan only converts to oligodendrocytes. glutamate receptors play a role in the normal development of BG