A new drug can lure stem cells to damaged tissue and locations, improving treatment efficacy. The drug could be used to help recruit stem cells to sites damaged by neurodegenerative diseases. Read More
Astrocytes are involved in regulating inhibitory synapses by binding to neurons through the NrCAM adhesion molecule. Read More
Astrocytes play a vital role in maintaining the pH balance within the brain. Read More
Astrocytes respond to cocaine exposure in the brains of mice by promoting the formation of new synapses. Read More
The Alzheimer's risk gene ApoE4 hampers the process of endocytosis in astrocytes. Read More
Astrocytes could be as important as neurons when it comes to regulating sleep. Read More
Study reveals the important role astrocytes play in maintaining blood-brain barrier health. Read More
Axon regeneration and dramatic improvements in functional recovery occurred when lactate was applied to damaged neural tissue. Treatment with lactate also significantly improved locomotion and restored some walking capability in mouse models of SCI. Read More
Study identifies a specific type of immune cell that induces inflammation in herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis. Read More
During wakeful periods, the glymphatic system diverts cerebrospinal fluid to lymph nodes in the neck. The CSF may act as a "fluid clock" that helps initiate the body's infection-fighting capabilities during the day. Astrocytes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus may serve to control CSF through the central nervous system. Communication between astrocytes in different brain regions may optimize the glymphatic system's function as we sleep. Read More
Alterations in the excitation and inhibition balance is regulated in the developing brain by astrocytes via the ephrin-B1 protein. The loss of astrocytic ephrin-B1 alters the E/I balance by reducing inhibition, resulting in hyperactivity of neural circuits. The hyperactivity results in reduced sociability in mice. Read More
Astrocytes are important for uninterrupted slow wave sleep and brain rhythms that are essential for learning and memory, through mechanisms involving intracellular calcium signals. Read More
