Purinergic and Glutamatergic Receptors on Astroglia

Abstract

Astroglial cells express many neurotransmitter receptors; the receptors to glutamate and ATP being the most abundant. Here, we provide a concise overview on the expression and main properties of astroglial glutamate receptors (ionotropic receptors represented by AMPA and NMDA subtypes) and metabotropic (mainly mGluR5 and mGluR3 subtypes) and purinoceptors (adenosine receptors of A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 types, ionotropic P2X1/5 and P2X7 subtypes, and metabotropic P2Y purinoceptors). We also discuss the role of these receptors in glial physiology and pathophysiology.