Glia and the blood-brain barrier
Introduces the brain's support cells — including the ones that build the barrier every drug must cross.
Where this fitsConnects to 1 · Unlocks 1
- Connects to
- The synapse: release, binding and termination — Glia clear transmitter and contain enzymes like MAO and GABA-T.
- Unlocks
- Distribution: membranes, protein binding and barriers — The blood-brain barrier decides which drugs reach the brain.
Orient
Glial cells – “helpers”; also called neuroglia. They can synthesize or metabolize neurotransmitters and clean up waste products, provide support to neurons such as forming the myelin sheath, can be precursors to neurons, and form the blood-brain barrier – important barrier in between bloodstream and brain itself. There is a somewhat even ratio of glia to neurons.
Course terms
Your professor's wording, word for word from the slides. Learn the term and this definition — the explanation underneath is only there to help it make sense.
- Glial cells (neuroglia)
““Helpers”; also called neuroglia”Slides 02, p. 28
Support cells; roughly as many as neurons, not vastly more.
- Blood-brain barrier
“Form the blood-brain barrier – important barrier in between bloodstream and brain itself”Slides 02, p. 28
The barrier a psychoactive drug must cross; made by glia (astrocytes).
- Glia and neurotransmitters
“Can synthesize or metabolize neurotransmitters; clean up waste products”Slides 02, p. 28
e.g., MAO and GABA-T in glia.
From your course: Course slides 02, p. 28
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Full lesson: Glia