Astrocytes regulate action potential propagation in myelinated axons: It is very crowded at the node of Ranvier

Abstract

• Astrocytes regulate action potential propagation in myelinated axons of CNS white matter. • Astrocyte-axon integration through purinergic (ATP and adenosine) signalling. • Astrocyte Ca 2+ signalling triggers their release of ATP which is converted to adenosine. • Activation of A2A receptors regulate axonal excitability through HCN channels. • Hence, astrocytes modify WM information flow and neural circuit function in pathways that regulate all facets of brain and bodily functions.