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Glial Cells

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Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells

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Glia, or neuroglia, are vital support cells that assist neurons in their functions. The term "glia" originates from the Greek word for "glue," reflecting their role in holding the nervous system together. These cells can be categorized into six types: four in the central nervous system (CNS) and two in the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
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EPS and iPS Cells in Disease Research

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Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells are excellent models for disease research because of their ability to self-renew and differentiate into most cell types. Somatic cells from a patient are isolated and reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs. These iPSCs are later differentiated into the desired cell type, which mirrors the diseased cell of the patient. In this way, disease models have been created for investigating diseases such as Down syndrome, type I diabetes,...

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In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Three-dimensional Tissue Engineered Aligned Astrocyte Networks to Recapitulate Developmental Mechanisms and Facilitate Nervous System Regeneration

Three-dimensional Tissue Engineered Aligned Astrocyte Networks to Recapitulate Developmental Mechanisms and Facilitate Nervous System Regeneration

Published on: January 10, 2018

Astrocytes going live: advances and challenges.

Axel Nimmerjahn¹

¹Department of Biology, James H. Clark Center for Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5435, USA. animmerj@stanford.edu

The Journal of Physiology

|February 11, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Astrocytes, crucial central nervous system (CNS) cells, perform diverse vital functions. Recent in vivo research reveals sophisticated astrocyte physiology in healthy brains, offering new insights into their roles.

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Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes

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Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Three-dimensional Tissue Engineered Aligned Astrocyte Networks to Recapitulate Developmental Mechanisms and Facilitate Nervous System Regeneration

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Published on: January 10, 2018

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Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes

Published on: January 19, 2013

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology

Background:

Astrocytes are abundant glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS).
They play critical roles in brain development, physiology, and pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

To summarize recent in vivo findings on astrocyte physiology.
To discuss the implications of these findings.
To identify challenges in studying astrocyte function in vivo.

Main Methods:

Review of recent in vivo studies on astrocyte function.
Synthesis of current understanding of astrocyte physiology.

Main Results:

Astrocytes exhibit complex functions in the healthy brain.
New insights into astrocyte roles in normal brain physiology have emerged.

Conclusions:

In vivo studies are revolutionizing our understanding of astrocyte function.
Further research is needed to overcome challenges in studying astrocytes in their natural environment.