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Abstract
<p class="first" id="P1">Astrocytes, the most abundant glial cells in the mammalian
brain, are critical regulators
of brain development and physiology through dynamic and often bidirectional interactions
with neuronal synapses. Despite the clear importance of astrocytes for the establishment
and maintenance of proper synaptic connectivity, our understanding of their role in
brain function is still in its infancy. We propose that this is at least in part due
to large gaps in our knowledge of the cell biology of astrocytes and the mechanisms
they use to interact with synapses. In this review, we summarize some of the seminal
findings that yield important insight into the cellular and molecular basis of astrocyte-neuron
communication, focusing on the role of astrocytes in the development and remodeling
of synapses. Furthermore, we will pose some pressing questions that need to be addressed
to advance our mechanistic understanding of the role of astrocytes in regulating synaptic
development.
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