News tagged with astrocytes
Model for brain signaling flawed, new study finds
A new study out today in the journal Science turns two decades of understanding about how brain cells communicate on its head. The study demonstrates that the tripartite synapse – a model long accepted by the ...
Neuroscience
Jan 10, 2013 |
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Cellular environment controls formation and activity of neuronal connections
Environment moulds behaviour - and not just that of people in society, but also at the microscopic level. This is because, for their function, neurons are dependent on the cell environment, the so-termed ...
Neuroscience
May 06, 2013 |
4 / 5 (2) |
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Once considered mainly 'brain glue,' astrocytes' power revealed
A type of cell plentiful in the brain, long considered mainly the stuff that holds the brain together and oft-overlooked by scientists more interested in flashier cells known as neurons, wields more power in the brain than ...
Medical research
Apr 04, 2012 |
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Study finds diabetes raises levels of proteins linked to Alzheimer's features
Growing evidence suggests that there may be a link between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, but the physiological mechanisms by which diabetes impacts brain function and cognition are not fully understood. ...
Alzheimer's disease & dementia
Oct 26, 2012 |
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A change of heart: Researchers reprogram brain cells to become heart cells
For the past decade, researchers have tried to reprogram the identity of all kinds of cell types. Heart cells are one of the most sought-after cells in regenerative medicine because researchers anticipate ...
Medical research
Jul 08, 2011 |
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Researchers find that alcohol consumption damages brain's support cells
Alcohol consumption affects the brain in multiple ways, ranging from acute changes in behavior to permanent molecular and functional alterations. The general consensus is that in the brain, alcohol targets mainly neurons. ...
Neuroscience
Mar 18, 2013 |
3 / 5 (1) |
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New methods to explore astrocyte effects on brain function
A study in The Journal of General Physiology presents new methods to evaluate how astrocytes contribute to brain function, paving the way for future exploration of these important brain cells at unprecede ...
Medical research
Apr 29, 2013 |
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Discovery may help nerve regeneration in spinal injury
Scientists at the Universities of Liverpool and Glasgow have uncovered a possible new method of enhancing nerve repair in the treatment of spinal cord injuries.
Neuroscience
Nov 06, 2012 |
5 / 5 (1) |
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Providing brain cells with the 3rd dimension to grow outside the body
Researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy in collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology developed a unique Bioactive3D culture system for brain cells. This system gives new possibilities to study cell-cell ...
Medical research
Jan 25, 2013 |
5 / 5 (1) |
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Modeling Alzheimer's disease using iPSCs
Working with a group from Nagasaki University, a research group at the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Japan's Kyoto University has announced in the Feb. 21 online publication of Cell St ...
Alzheimer's disease & dementia
Feb 21, 2013 |
5 / 5 (1) |
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A new starring role for astrocytes
Astrocytes, previously thought of as helper cells for neurons, have recently been shown to send signals themselves. The signals are chemical not electrical and astrocytes send them to neurons, vascular ...
Medical research
Aug 10, 2012 |
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Environmental enrichment important factor impacting cell transplantation and brain repair
A team of Korean researchers investigated whether "environmental enrichment" can improve the neurobehavioral function of six week-old mice after transplantation of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to treat hypoxic-ischemic ...
Medical research
Mar 27, 2013 |
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Neuron-nourishing cells appear to retaliate in Alzheimer's
When brain cells start oozing too much of the amyloid protein that is the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, the astrocytes that normally nourish and protect them deliver a suicide package instead, researchers ...
Alzheimer's disease & dementia
May 22, 2012 |
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Astrocytes found to bridge gap between global brain activity and localized circuits
Global network activity in the brain modulates local neural circuitry via calcium signaling in non-neuronal cells called astrocytes (Fig. 1), according to research led by Hajime Hirase of the RIKEN Brain Science ...
Neuroscience
May 11, 2012 |
4 / 5 (4) |
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Metabolic patterns of propofol, sevoflurane differ in children
(HealthDay)—For children undergoing routine anesthesia for medically indicated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the metabolic signature varies with use of sevoflurane and propofol, according to a study ...
Other
Oct 26, 2012 |
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Astrocyte
Astrocytes (etymology: astron gk. star, cyte gk. cell), also known collectively as astroglia, are characteristic star-shaped glial cells in the brain and spinal cord. They perform many functions, including biochemical support of endothelial cells that form the blood–brain barrier, provision of nutrients to the nervous tissue, maintenance of extracellular ion balance, and a role in the repair and scarring process of the brain and spinal cord following traumatic injuries.
Research since the mid-1990s has shown that astrocytes propagate intercellular Ca2+ waves over long distances in response to stimulation, and, similar to neurons, release transmitters (called gliotransmitters) in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Data suggest that astrocytes also signal to neurons through Ca2+-dependent release of glutamate. Such discoveries have made astrocytes an important area of research within the field of neuroscience.
For more information about Astrocyte, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
