Astrocyte signaling and synaptic homeostasis

The transport and secretory functions of astrocytes have a major role in regulation of the neuronal microenvironment, synaptic homeostasis, neural network activity, local blood flow, and metabolism in the CNS. The first part of this review focused on the functional compartmentalization of astrocytes and their membrane transporters, ion channels, and receptors involved in these functions. This second part will focus on the secretory function of astrocytes, and the importance of astrocytic signaling and transport mechanisms in synaptic homeostasis, network activity, and metabolic support of active neurons.