Glia multitask to compensate for neighboring glial cell dysfunction.

As glia mature, they undergo glial tiling to abut one another without invading each other's boundaries. Upon the loss of the secreted neurotrophin Spätzle3 (Spz3), cortex glia transform morphologically and lose their intricate interactions with neurons and surrounding glial subtypes. Here, we reveal that all neighboring glial cell types (astrocytes, ensheathing glia, and subperineurial glia) react by extending processes into the previous cortex glial territory to compensate for lost cortex glial function and reduce the buildup of neuronal debris.