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astrocytes

·November 24, 2020·6 min read

Drug Guides Stem Cells to Desired Location, Improving Their Ability to Heal

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.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 12, 2020·4 min read

Astrocytes Identified as Master ‘Conductors’ of the Brain

Astrocytes are involved in regulating inhibitory synapses by binding to neurons through the NrCAM adhesion molecule.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·November 9, 2020·4 min read

Astrocytes Play a Vital Role in Preventing Acidification of the Brain

Astrocytes play a vital role in maintaining the pH balance within the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 17, 2020·3 min read

Astrocytes Build Synapses After Cocaine Use

Astrocytes respond to cocaine exposure in the brains of mice by promoting the formation of new synapses.

Featured Genetics Neurology Open Neuroscience Articles

·October 6, 2020·6 min read

Alzheimer’s Risk Gene Disrupts Endocytosis, but Another Disease-Linked Gene Could Help

The Alzheimer's risk gene ApoE4 hampers the process of endocytosis in astrocytes.

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·September 24, 2020·5 min read

Astrocytes May Hold the Key to Why and How We Sleep

Astrocytes could be as important as neurons when it comes to regulating sleep.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 21, 2020·5 min read

Advancing Understanding of Blood-Brain Barrier Health

Study reveals the important role astrocytes play in maintaining blood-brain barrier health.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·September 16, 2020·5 min read

New Path to Neuron Regeneration After Spinal Cord Injury Discovered

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.

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·September 15, 2020·4 min read

Key Role of Immune Cells in Brain Infection Identified

Study identifies a specific type of immune cell that induces inflammation in herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis.

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·September 2, 2020·5 min read

Circadian Rhythms Help Guide Waste From Brain

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.

This shows neurons and astrocytes in the hippocampus

Electrophysiology Featured Neuroscience

·August 31, 2020·5 min read

Brain Protein Linked to Seizures and Abnormal Social Behaviors

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.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 15, 2020·4 min read

Astrocytes Help to Maintain Slow Wave Sleep

Astrocytes are important for uninterrupted slow wave sleep and brain rhythms that are essential for learning and memory, through mechanisms involving intracellular calcium signals.