Astrocyte
| Astrocyte | |
|---|---|
 An astrocytic cell from rat brain grown in tissue culture. It is stained with antibodies. The blue material shows stained DNA, and shows the nuclei of the astrocyte and other cells. | |
| Details | |
| Location | Brain and Spinal cord |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Astrocytus |
| MeSH | D001253 |
| NeuroLex ID | sao1394521419 |
| TH | H2.00.06.2.00002, H2.00.06.2.01008 |
| FMA | 54537 |
| Anatomical terms of microanatomy | |
Astrocytes [1] are characteristic star-shaped glial cells in the brain and spinal cord. They are also known collectively as astroglia.
The proportion of astrocytes in the brain varies. Studies have found that the astrocyte proportion varies by region from 20% to 40% of all glia.[2]
Astrocytes do many things. They help the endothelial cells of the blood–brain barrier, provide nutrients to the nervous tissue, keep extracellular ions in balance. They also help repair the brain and spinal cord after traumatic injuries.
Research since the mid-1990s has shown that astrocytes release Ca2+ ions, and adjust brain functions.