Abstract

GARCIA, OCTAVIO  and  MASSIEU, LOURDES. INTERACCIÓN ENTRE LAS CÉLULAS GLIALES Y NEURONALES Y SU PAPEL EN LA MUERTE Y SOBREVIVENCIA NEURONAL. Arch. Neurocien. (Mex., D.F.) [online]. 2004, vol.9, n.1, pp.39-46. ISSN 1028-5938.

The brain is conformed by neurons and glial cells, and the relationship between these two types of cells is fundamental in maintaining cerebral homeostasis. The excitability of nerve cells depends mainly on glutamic acid, the mayor excitatory neurotransmitter in mammalian brain. The synthesis and metabolism of glutamic acid, involves a close relationship between neurons and glial cells. An alteration of the glutamatergic neuro-glial systems can produce the death of neurons through a mechanism known as excitotoxicity. Excitotoxic death is associated with the loss of neurons observed after a cerebral ischemic episode and in some neurodegenerative diseases. On the other hand, neuro-glial systems might have a neuroprotective action to prevent excitotoxic damage through an intense metabolic interaction which involves the stimulation of glycolysis and the production metabolic substrates such as pyruvate and lactate, as well as glutathione synthesis, among others. The present work reviews the role of the glutamatergic neuro-glial system on neuronal damage and survival during cerebral ischemia.

Keywords : neurons; glia; ischemia; glutamate.