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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Visualizing Astrocyte Morphology Using Lucifer Yellow Iontophoresis

Visualizing Astrocyte Morphology Using Lucifer Yellow Iontophoresis

Published on: September 14, 2019

The astrocyte odyssey.

Doris D Wang¹, Angélique Bordey

¹Institute for Regeneration Medicine and Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Progress in Neurobiology

|October 25, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Astrocytes, once thought to be passive brain cells, actively participate in neural information processing and exhibit stem cell properties in neurogenic niches. Further research is needed to fully understand their in vivo functions and diverse roles.

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Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Visualizing Astrocyte Morphology Using Lucifer Yellow Iontophoresis

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Published on: September 14, 2019

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes

Published on: January 19, 2013

Visualizing and Analyzing Intracellular Transport of Organelles and Other Cargos in Astrocytes

Visualizing and Analyzing Intracellular Transport of Organelles and Other Cargos in Astrocytes

Published on: August 28, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Glial Cell Research

Background:

Astrocytes are glial cells in the brain, with numbers equal to neurons.
Historically viewed as supportive, their active role in neural function is increasingly recognized.
Technological advances have spurred research into neuronal-glial interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To define the characteristics of astrocytes under physiological conditions.
To discuss established and emerging functions of astrocytes.
To emphasize astrocyte roles in neuronal activity and as neural stem cells.

Main Methods:

Review of in vitro and in vivo studies on astrocyte function.
Analysis of molecular identities and specialized functions of diverse astrocyte populations.
Investigation of astrocyte characteristics in neurogenic niches.

Main Results:

Astrocytes contribute to information transfer and processing, not just passive support.
Diverse astrocyte populations exist with unique molecular identities and functions.
A subset of astrocytes exhibits both support and neural stem cell characteristics in adult neurogenic zones.

Conclusions:

Astrocytes are integral to brain function, influencing neuronal activity.
The heterogeneity of astrocytes suggests specialized roles within the brain.
Astrocytes in neurogenic niches possess stem cell potential, impacting brain plasticity.