Thread: Glial Cells Survival

I understand that neurons can't survive without glial cells, but can glial cells survive without neurons?

I realized that I posted this thread in the wrong area and I don't know how to delete it. I am re-posting the thread in the proper place: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience.

Hello friends,

I would like to say, glial cells guide axons to their target areas, but it is unknown whether they help neurons to establish functional synaptic connections. The role of glial cells in synapse formation and function was studied in cultures of purified neurons from the rat central nervous system. In glia-free cultures, retinal ganglion cells formed synapses with normal ultra-structure, but displayed little spontaneous synaptic activity and high failure rates in evoked synaptic transmission. Glial cells increased the action potential-independent quantal release by 12-fold without affecting neuronal survival. Thus, developing neurons in culture form inefficient synapses that require glial signals to become fully functional.

Best of luck
Stephen Jones