Lipids comprise an extremely heterogeneous group of compounds that perform a wide variety of biological functions. Traditional view of lipids as important structural components of the cell and compounds playing a trophic role is currently being supplemented by information on the possible participation of lipids in signaling, not only intracellular, but also intercellular. The review article discusses current data on the role of lipids and their metabolites formed in glial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia) in communication of these cells with neurons. In addition to metabolic transformations of lipids in each type of glial cells, special attention is paid to the lipid signal molecules (phosphatidic acid, arachidonic acid and its metabolites, cholesterol, etc.) and the possibility of their participation in realization of synaptic plasticity, as well as in other possible mechanisms associated with neuroplasticity. All these new data can significantly expand our knowledge about the regulatory functions of lipids in neuroglial relationships.
Keywords: astrocytes; brain; central nervous system; lipid metabolism; lipids; microglia; neuronal-glial interactions; neurons; oligodendrocytes; synaptic plasticity.