Question

Astroglial cells in the brain can actively import the amino acid glutamate from the synaptic cleft, convert it to the a.a. glutamine, & release the glutamine into the cleft to be subsequently taken up by the presynaptic neurons. The neurons then convert it back to glutamate. Why is this function of glial cells important?

Answer 1

Astroglial cells in the brain actively import glutamate from the synaptic cleft, convert it to glutamine, and release it back into the cleft for uptake by presynaptic neurons. This function is important for maintaining the balance of glutamate levels in the brain and is crucial for synaptic transmission, cognition, and learning.

Step-by-step explanation:

Astroglial cells in the brain play an important role in the conversion and transport of the amino acid glutamate. They actively import glutamate from the synaptic cleft and convert it into the amino acid glutamine. This glutamine is then released back into the cleft for uptake by the presynaptic neurons, which convert it back to glutamate.

This function of glial cells is important for maintaining the balance of glutamate levels in the brain, as glutamate is a major neurotransmitter involved in synaptic transmission and plays a crucial role in cognition and learning.