Glial cells exploit calcium (Ca²⁺) signals to perceive the information about the activity of the nervous tissue and the tissue environment to translate this information into an array of homeostatic, signaling and defensive reactions. Astrocytes, the best studied glial cells, use several Ca²⁺ signaling generation pathways that include Ca²⁺ entry through plasma membrane, release from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and from mitochondria. Activation of metabotropic receptors on the plasma membrane of glial cells is coupled to an enzymatic cascade in which a second messenger, InsP₃ is generated thus activating intracellular Ca²⁺ release channels in the ER endomembrane. Astrocytes also possess store-operated Ca²⁺ entry and express several ligand-gated Ca²⁺ channels. In vivo astrocytes generate heterogeneous Ca²⁺ signals, which are short and frequent in distal processes, but large and relatively rare in soma. In response to neuronal activity intracellular and inter-cellular astrocytic Ca²⁺ waves can be produced. Astrocytic Ca²⁺ signals are involved in secretion, they regulate ion transport across cell membranes, and are contributing to cell morphological plasticity. Therefore, astrocytic Ca²⁺ signals are linked to fundamental functions of the central nervous system ranging from synaptic transmission to behavior. In oligodendrocytes, Ca²⁺ signals are generated by plasmalemmal Ca²⁺ influx, or by release from intracellular stores, or by combination of both. Microglial cells exploit Ca²⁺ permeable ionotropic purinergic receptors and transient receptor potential channels as well as ER Ca²⁺ release. In this contribution, basic morphology of glial cells, glial Ca²⁺ signaling toolkit, intracellular Ca²⁺ signals and Ca²⁺-regulated functions are discussed with focus on astrocytes.

神经胶质细胞利用钙 (Ca ²⁺ ) 信号来感知有关神经组织和组织环境活动的信息，从而将这些信息转化为一系列稳态、信号传导和防御反应。星形胶质细胞是研究得最好的神经胶质细胞，它使用几种 Ca ²⁺信号生成途径，包括 Ca ²⁺通过质膜进入、从内质网 (ER) 和线粒体释放。神经胶质细胞质膜上代谢型受体的激活与酶级联反应相结合，其中产生第二信使 InsP ₃，从而激活 ER 内膜中的细胞内 Ca ²⁺释放通道。星形胶质细胞还具有储存操作的 Ca²⁺进入并表达几个配体门控 Ca ²⁺通道。体内星形胶质细胞产生异质Ca ²⁺信号，这些信号在远端过程中很短且频繁，但在体细胞中较大且相对罕见。响应于细胞内和细胞间的神经元活动，可以产生星形细胞Ca ^2+波。星形细胞 Ca ²⁺信号参与分泌，它们调节跨细胞膜的离子转运，并有助于细胞形态可塑性。因此，星形细胞 Ca ²⁺信号与从突触传递到行为的中枢神经系统的基本功能相关联。在少突胶质细胞中，Ca ²⁺信号由质膜Ca ²⁺流入或通过从细胞内储存释放或由两者的组合产生。小胶质细胞利用 Ca ²⁺可渗透的离子型嘌呤受体和瞬时受体电位通道以及 ER Ca ²⁺释放。在这篇文章中，重点讨论了胶质细胞的基本形态、胶质 Ca ²⁺信号传导工具包、细胞内 Ca ²⁺信号和 Ca ²⁺调节功能，重点是星形胶质细胞。