星形胶质细胞现在被认为是神经回路的组成部分,调节他们的成熟,活性和可塑性。神经内分泌学为揭示星形胶质细胞响应内部和环境输入而调节神经回路活动的生理和行为结果的多种策略提供了沃土。然而,与大脑皮层和脊髓等其他大脑区域相比,下丘脑星形胶质细胞的发育受到的关注要少得多。在这次审查中,我们综合了我们目前对不同生命阶段下丘脑星象发生的知识。下丘脑占星术的一个显着特征是它可以持续一生,并涉及早期发育过程中与放射状神经胶质细胞相对应的多种细胞来源,其次是tanycyes,实质祖细胞和局部分裂的星形胶质细胞。下丘脑的星形发生与下丘脑神经元的成熟紧密协调。这种协调的例子是最近发现的神经元产生促性腺激素释放激素,在婴儿期积极塑造他们的星形胶质环境,以在功能上整合到他们的神经网络中并促进性成熟,易受内分泌干扰的过程。虽然下丘脑星形发生与其他大脑区域有共同的原则,它在动态和调节方面也表现出特定的特征,无论是在区域间还是在区域内。这些独特的特性强调了进一步探索的重要性。此外,我们讨论了用于评估下丘脑星形发生的实验策略及其潜在的偏倚和局限性。了解整个生命过程中下丘脑星状发生的机制对于理解下丘脑在生理和病理条件下的发育和功能至关重要。
Astrocytes are now recognized as integral components of neural circuits, regulating their maturation, activity and plasticity. Neuroendocrinology has provided fertile ground for revealing the diverse strategies used by astrocytes to regulate the physiological and behavioural outcomes of neural circuit activity in response to internal and environmental inputs. However, the development of astrocytes in the hypothalamus has received much less attention than in other brain regions such as the cerebral cortex and spinal cord. In this review, we synthesize our current knowledge of
astrogenesis in the hypothalamus across various life stages. A distinctive feature of hypothalamic
astrogenesis is that it persists all throughout lifespan, and involves multiple cellular sources corresponding to radial glial cells during early development, followed by tanycytes, parenchymal progenitors and locally dividing astrocytes.
Astrogenesis in the hypothalamus is closely coordinated with the maturation of hypothalamic neurons. This coordination is exemplified by recent findings in neurons producing gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which actively shape their astroglial environment during infancy to integrate functionally into their neural network and facilitate sexual maturation, a process vulnerable to endocrine disruption. While hypothalamic astrogenesis shares common principles with other brain regions, it also exhibits specific features in its dynamics and regulation, both at the inter- and intra-regional levels. These unique properties emphasize the importance of further exploration. Additionally, we discuss the experimental strategies used to assess
astrogenesis in the hypothalamus and their potential bias and limitations. Understanding the mechanisms of hypothalamic
astrogenesis throughout life will be crucial for comprehending the development and function of the hypothalamus under both physiological and pathological conditions.