LONG-RANGE INTERCELLULAR SIGNALING IN GLIAL-CELLS OF THE PERIPHERAL-NERVE

SCHWANN cells are considered to be electrically silent satellite cells surrounding axons, although they exhibit ionic channels, some of whic h are similar to those employed by axons for the generation and transm ission of nerve impulses. Here, we show that Schwann cells generate, i n response to a short and gentle electrical stimulus, a longlasting de polarizing potential, slowly propagating along the Schwann cell synsit ium. This electrical signal, which in situ might be generated by the S chwann cells in response to the axonal electrical activity, constitute s in the peripheral glia a novel form of long-range intercellular sign alling, which may be involved in the regulation and modulation of the axonal excitability.