Neurochemistry international
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Synaptic plasticity consists in a change in synaptic strength that is believed to be the basis of learning and memory. Synaptic plasticity has been for a very long period of time a hallmark of neurons. ⋯ Because glial cells are all around synapses and release a wide variety of neuroactive molecule during physiological and pathological conditions, glial cells have been reported to modulate synaptic plasticity in many different ways. From change in synaptic coverage, to release of chemokines and cytokines up to dedicated "glio" transmitters release, glia were reported to affect synaptic scaling, homeostatic plasticity, metaplasticity, long-term potentiation and long-term depression.