Theodosis, Dionysia T., Andrei Trailin, and Dominique A. Poulain. Remodeling of astrocytes, a prerequisite for synapse turnover in the adult brain? Insights from the oxytocin system of the hypothalamus. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 290: R1175-R1182, 2006; doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00755.2005.-Neurons, including their synapses, are generally ensheathed by fine processes of astrocytes, but this glial coverage can be altered under different physiological conditions that modify neuronal activity. Changes in synaptic connectivity accompany astrocytic transformations so that an increased number of synapses are associated with reduced astrocytic coverage of postsynaptic elements, whereas synaptic numbers are reduced on reestablishment of glial coverage. A system that exemplifies activity-dependent structural synaptic plasticity in the adult brain is the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system, and in particular, its oxytocin component. Under strong, prolonged activation (parturition, lactation, chronic dehydration), extensive portions of somatic and dendritic surfaces of magnocellular oxytocin neurons are freed of intervening astrocytic processes and become directly juxtaposed. Concurrently, they are contacted by an increased number of inhibitory and excitatory synapses. Once stimulation is over, astrocytic processes again cover oxytocinergic surfaces and synaptic numbers return to baseline levels. Such observations indicate that glial ensheathment of neurons is of consequence to neuronal function, not only directly, for example by modifying synaptic transmission, but indirectly as well, by preparing neuronal surfaces for synapse turnover.NEURONS, GLIA, AND SYNAPTIC inputs are not static elements because they undergo dynamic transformations. This can take place under normal physiological conditions and highlights the adult nervous system's remarkable capacity to undergo restructuring to meet particular functional requirements. A change in the morphology of neurons, and especially of afferent inputs controlling their activity, can have important consequences on their respective functions. These modifications are often accompanied by remodeling of adjacent glia, which has further impact on neuronal activity by modifying the immediate extracellular microenvironment, thereby influencing synaptic and volume transmission.The hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system (HNS), and in particular, its oxytocinergic component, is a familiar model for this kind of morphological neuronal and glial plasticity (57,76). Oxytocin (OT) neurons accumulate in well-defined regions in the hypothalamus, the supraoptic (SON), and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei, and release OT mainly from axon terminals in the neurohypophysis to act as a neurohormone in vital functions like parturition, lactation, and osmotic regulation. Critical for this systemic secretion is the concomitant exocytotic release of the peptide from somata and dendrites of OT neurons themselves in the SON and PVN. This central release facilitates the synchronous high-frequency activity of...

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