The tripartite synapse

Abstract

The study of the astrocyte was hampered during the 1900s by the lack of experimental techniques to permit experimental stimulation and recording of the function of the astrocyte. Even in the early 1900s it was appreciated that electrical signals were the mechanism of conduction of neuronal signals (Adrian, 1912). Since astrocytes exhibit a large negative resting potential (Butt and Kalsi, 2006) their functional activity was mute to the electrophysiological techniques used to study nervous system function.