Astrocytes interaction with neurons

It is a functional unit composed of groups of neurons and their associated astrocytes, interacting with smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells on the microvessels (arterioles) responsible for their blood supply, and capable of regulating the local blood flow. Within this organization, further modular structures can be detected. 

ABCA1 functions to translocate cholesterol and phospholipids outward across the plasma membrane after their delivery to the inner plasma membrane leaflet via vesicular pathways [35]. This occurs in astrocytes and developing neurons. Astrocytes also secrete apoE. Extracellular apoE binds and interacts with ABCA1 to promote cholesterol and PC efflux from cultured astrocytes through a mechanism that results in apoE-stabilized... 

The astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle hypothesis is controversial. In recent years the possibility that lactate, formed within the brain and released by astrocytes, is an important neuronal substrate both for energy and incorporation into neurotransmitters has been the subject of many studies and considerable controversy. There is evidence that suggests transient release of lactate in human brain on stimulation [48,8,88], Little is known about the highly active metabolism that takes place in the many elaborate, lamellar distal processes of astrocytes dispersed through the neuropil and interacting with an estimated >100,000 synapses [82, and references therein]. However, it is well established that astrocytes do respond to neuronal activity [89], For example, in the isolated mouse optic nerve preparation, upon stimulation, astrocytic glycogen... 

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