Astrocytes, a major type of glial cell, are known to play key supportive roles in brain function, contributing to ion and neurotransmitter homeostasis, maintaining the blood–brain barrier and providing trophic and metabolic support for neurons. Besides these support functions, astrocytes are emerging as important elements in brain physiology through signaling exchange with neurons at tripartite synapses. Astrocytes express a wide variety of neurotransmitter transporters and receptors that allow them to sense and respond to synaptic activity. Principal among them are the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in astrocytes because their activation by synaptically released neurotransmitters leads to mobilization of intracellular calcium. In turn, activated astrocytes release neuroactive substances called gliotransmitters, such as glutamate, GABA, and ATP/adenosine that lead to synaptic regulation through activation of neuronal GPCRs. In this review we will present and discuss recent evidence demonstrating the critical roles played by GPCRs in the bidirectional astrocyte–neuron signaling, and their crucial involvement in the astrocyte-mediated regulation of synaptic transmission and plasticity.

星形胶质细胞是一种主要的神经胶质细胞，已知在大脑功能中发挥关键的支持作用，有助于离子和神经递质稳态，维持血脑屏障，并为神经元提供营养和代谢支持。除了这些支持功能外，星形胶质细胞还通过与三方突触处的神经元进行信号交换而成为大脑生理学中的重要元素。星形胶质细胞表达多种神经递质转运蛋白和受体，使它们能够感知和响应突触活动。其中最主要的是星形胶质细胞中的 G 蛋白偶联受体 (GPCR)，因为它们被突触释放的神经递质激活导致细胞内钙的动员。反过来，活化的星形胶质细胞会释放出称为胶质递质的神经活性物质，例如谷氨酸、GABA、以及通过激活神经元 GPCR 导致突触调节的 ATP/腺苷。在这篇综述中，我们将展示和讨论最近的证据，证明 GPCR 在双向星形胶质细胞-神经元信号传导中发挥的关键作用，以及它们在星形胶质细胞介导的突触传递和可塑性调节中的关键作用.