Synaptic efficacy enhanced by glial cells in vitro.

@article{Pfrieger1997SynapticEE,
  title={Synaptic efficacy enhanced by glial cells in vitro.},
  author={F. Pfrieger and Barbara A. Barres},
  journal={Science},
  year={1997},
  volume={277 5332},
  pages={
          1684-7
        }
}
In the developing nervous system, glial cells guide axons to their target areas, but it is unknown whether they help neurons to establish functional synaptic connections. The role of glial cells in synapse formation and function was studied in cultures of purified neurons from the rat central nervous system. In glia-free cultures, retinal ganglion cells formed synapses with normal ultrastructure but displayed little spontaneous synaptic activity and high failure rates in evoked synaptic… 
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Roles of glial cells in synapse development

  • F. Pfrieger
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    Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
  • 2009
Recent evidence that synapse development is not a cell-autonomous process and that its distinct phases depend on assistance from the so-called glial cells is summarized.

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...

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