Abstract
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) occupies the brain’s ventricles and subarachnoid space and, together with the interstitial fluid (ISF), forms a continuous fluidic network that bathes all cells of the central nervous system (CNS). As such, the CSF is well positioned to actively distribute neuromodulators to neural circuits in vivo via volume transmission. Recent in vitro experimental work in brain slices and neuronal cultures has shown that human CSF indeed contains neuromodulators that strongly influence neuronal activity. Here we briefly summarize these new findings and discuss their potential relevance to neural circuits in health and disease.
Highlights
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) system is an evolutionarily preserved feature of animal brains (Brocklehurst, 1979) and provides central neurons with a regulated chemical environment well suited to promote their function and survival
Communicating freely with the interstitial fluid (ISF) (Brightman and Palay, 1963; Smith et al, 2004), the CSF system has the potential to serve as a vessel for neuromodulatory signals acting via volume transmission (Agnati et al, 1986, 2010)
We summarize a set of new experimental findings in vitro showing that endogenous neuromodulators in human CSF potently influence the function of pyramidal cells and interneurons in the rat hippocampal brain slice, and in rat cortical neuronal cultures
Summary
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) system is an evolutionarily preserved feature of animal brains (Brocklehurst, 1979) and provides central neurons with a regulated chemical environment well suited to promote their function and survival. Communicating freely with the ISF (Brightman and Palay, 1963; Smith et al, 2004), the CSF system has the potential to serve as a vessel for neuromodulatory signals acting via volume transmission (Agnati et al, 1986, 2010). Whether the CSF system plays an active, rather than passive, role in distributing neuromodulators throughout the brain is still unknown. We summarize a set of new experimental findings in vitro showing that endogenous neuromodulators in human CSF potently influence the function of pyramidal cells and interneurons in the rat hippocampal brain slice, and in rat cortical neuronal cultures. The potential significance of this neuromodulation is discussed in health and disease, and an outlook on the future advancement of this research field is provided
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