Recent years have provided outstanding progress in our knowledge of multiple and diverse functions of glial cells in the central nervous system. In particular, new insights into glia’s role at the synaptic level are revolutionizing our understanding of synaptic physiology and pathology. Indeed, glial cells are in close partnership with synapses and participate in synapse formation, function, and plasticity. Growing experimental evidence indicates that glia can sense neuronal activity, process information, and communicate back to neurons through a wide range of molecules including gliotransmitters, energy substrates, and various secreted factors. Glia are implicated in the development and refinement of neuronal connections and show dynamic structural plasticity of their processes. Moreover, compromised integrity of neuronal glial communication and glial function results in developmental disorders, neuropathology, and disease. Although much data has been accumulated in the field, significant questions remain regarding the role of glial cells in CNS development, function, and disease. Ongoing research is required to add to our understanding of the cellular and the molecular mechanisms that underlie neuronal glial interactions and will help to gain new insights essential for the future clinical applications.

This special issue will focus on all aspects of glia-synapse interactions under conditions of development, plasticity, and disease. We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that summarize the state of knowledge in the field. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Glia and synapse: bidirectional communication
• Structural interplay at the glia-synapse unit
• Molecular mechanisms of the glia-synapse interactions
• Role of glia in the development of neuronal circuits
• Glia and the synapse in pathology and disease
• Recent technological advances in studying glia

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal’s Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/np/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/np/glias/ according to the following timetable: