Abstract
Twenty years ago glial cells were shown to contribute to neuronal information processing, instead of merely supporting neuronal function, thus challenging the century old neuron doctrine. Due to the lack of appropriate experimental models, however, determining the role of glia in higher brain function and disease has been hampered. In a recent paper, Han and colleagues transplanted human glial progenitor cells into mice; not only does this study pave the way for generations of excellent models to study the physiology and pathophysiology of human glial cells, especially in the age of induced pluripotent stem cells, but more importantly it further challenges the neuron doctrine, since the human-glia transplanted mice turned into better learners. So, are glial cells the ones we owe our intelligence to after all?
Highlights
Twenty years ago glial cells were shown to contribute to neuronal information processing, instead of merely supporting neuronal function, challenging the century old neuron doctrine
Central nervous system glial cells are divided into macroglia and microglia, the immune cells of the brain
* Correspondence: rk385@cam.ac.uk 1Wellcome Trust-MRC Stem Cell Institute, John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK 2Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK Full list of author information is available at the end of the article list of functions is long and ever expanding, including homeostasis, energy supply, synapse formation, maintenance, neuronal progenitor migration guidance, metabolic support, synaptic plasticity, regulation of blood flow and repair of the central nervous system [2]
Summary
Twenty years ago glial cells were shown to contribute to neuronal information processing, instead of merely supporting neuronal function, challenging the century old neuron doctrine. They are found in close contact with the blood– brain barrier, neuronal synapses, other astrocytes, neural stem cells and oligodendroglia.
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