Christine R. Rose: "Sodium Signals in Neurons and Glial cells: Occurrence and Physiological Significance"

Christine R. Rose
Institute of Neurobiology Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Germany

Sodium Signals in Neurons and Glial cells: Occurrence and Physiological Significance

It was long assumed that intracellular sodium in neurons and glial cells was strictly regulated and would not undergo significant changes in response to neural activity. This view was challenged by recent studies demonstrating the occurrence of substantial activity-induced sodium transients in both cell types. I will present new insights into the cellular mechanisms and the spatial profile of such activity-related sodium transients. Furthermore, their functional relevance will be discussed, suggesting that sodium transients should be considered as an important element of neuron to glia signaling, the failure of which may play a central role under pathophysiological conditions.