Studies on the interactions between astrocytes and neurons in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system have significantly facilitated our understanding of the regulation of neural activities. This has been exemplified in the interactions between astrocytes and magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (MNCs) in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), specifically during osmotic stimulation and lactation. In response to changes in neurochemical environment in the SON, astrocytic morphology and functions change significantly, which further modulates MNC activity and the secretion of vasopressin and oxytocin. In osmotic regulation, short-term dehydration or water overload causes transient retraction or expansion of astrocytic processes, which increases or decreases the activity of SON neurons, respectively. Prolonged osmotic stimulation causes adaptive change in astrocytic plasticity in the SON, which allows osmosensory neurons to reserve osmosensitivity at new levels. During lactation, changes in neurochemical environment cause retraction of astrocytic processes around oxytocin neurons, which increases MNC’s ability to secrete oxytocin. During suckling by a baby/pup, astrocytic processes in the mother/dams exhibit alternative retraction and expansion around oxytocin neurons, which mirrors intermittently synchronized activation of oxytocin neurons and the post-excitation inhibition, respectively. The morphological and functional plasticities of astrocytes depend on a series of cellular events involving glial fibrillary acidic protein, aquaporin 4, volume regulated anion channels, transporters and other astrocytic functional molecules. This review further explores mechanisms underlying astroglial regulation of the neuroendocrine neuronal activities in acute processes based on the knowledge from studies on the SON.

对下丘脑-神经垂体系统中星形胶质细胞和神经元相互作用的研究极大地促进了我们对神经活动调节的理解。这在视上核 (SON) 中的星形胶质细胞和大细胞神经内分泌细胞 (MNC) 之间的相互作用中得到了例证，特别是在渗透刺激和哺乳期间。为响应 SON 中神经化学环境的变化，星形胶质细胞的形态和功能发生显着变化，从而进一步调节 MNC 活性以及加压素和催产素的分泌。在渗透调节中，短期脱水或水过载会导致星形胶质细胞过程的短暂收缩或扩张，从而分别增加或减少 SON 神经元的活动。长时间的渗透刺激导致 SON 中星形胶质细胞可塑性的适应性变化，这使得渗透感觉神经元将渗透敏感性保留在新的水平。在哺乳期间，神经化学环境的变化导致催产素神经元周围的星形胶质细胞过程收缩，这增加了 MNC 分泌催产素的能力。在婴儿/幼犬哺乳期间，母/母中的星形胶质细胞过程在催产素神经元周围表现出交替的收缩和扩张，这分别反映了催产素神经元的间歇性同步激活和兴奋后抑制。星形胶质细胞的形态和功能可塑性取决于一系列细胞事件，包括胶质纤维酸性蛋白、水通道蛋白 4、体积调节阴离子通道、转运蛋白和其他星形胶质细胞功能分子。