Topic: mural cells

A growing number of studies indicate the possible involvement of astrocytes in triggering or modulating neurovascular coupling (NVC), i.e. the local dilation of blood vessels in the brain in response to neuronal activity [1]. Their endfeet, surrounding arterioles and capillaries, are ideally positioned to deliver vasodilators to mural cells, either vascular smooth muscle cells or pericytes. Additionnaly, recent EM data suggest contact between endfeet and synapses [2], indicating direct interactions. At the interface between synapses and vessels, endfeet are perfect candidates to mediate NVC. R

Neuro-implants designed to provide direct brain stimulation are increasingly common in the alleviation of ranged pathologies: from real-time responsive stimulation to hinder seizure activity to the recovery of primitive sight upon the loss of functional visual sensory organs through the direct stimulation of the visual cortex. Though studies of respective neuronal and glial cell types have increased the precision of these artificial stimulation therapies, the study of neurovascular responses to such stimulatory protocols remains comparatively under-studied. A better understanding and quantific