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Related Concept Videos

Glial Cells01:04

Glial Cells

Overview
Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells01:31

Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells

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).
The CNS glial cell includes the astrocytes, the oligodendrocytes, the microglia, and the ependymal cells.
Astrocytes are star-shaped glial cells that interact...
Nervous Tissue: Myelin01:25

Nervous Tissue: Myelin

The myelin sheath is a multilayered lipid and protein covering that insulates the axon of a neuron, enhancing the speed of nerve impulse conduction. Axons without this sheath are referred to as unmyelinated. Two types of neuroglia, Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) are responsible for producing myelin sheaths.
Schwann cells begin to form myelin sheaths around axons during fetal development. They wrap around a small...
Neuron Structure01:30

Neuron Structure

Neurons are the main type of cell in the nervous system that generate and transmit electrochemical signals. They primarily communicate with each other using neurotransmitters at specific junctions called synapses. Neurons come in many shapes that often relate to their function, but most share three main structures: an axon and dendrites that extend out from a cell body.
Structure and Function of Neurons
The neuronal cell body—the soma— houses the nucleus and organelles vital to cellular...
Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue01:15

Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue

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: May 17, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes
11:25

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes

Published on: January 19, 2013

Myelination: do astrocytes play a role?

Susan C Barnett1, Christopher Linington

  • 1Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK. susan.barnett@glasgow.ac.uk

The Neuroscientist : a Review Journal Bringing Neurobiology, Neurology and Psychiatry
|November 8, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Astrocytes, crucial for central nervous system (CNS) repair, actively support myelin maintenance and regeneration. This shifts focus from scar formation to harnessing astrocyte functions for treating CNS diseases like multiple sclerosis.

Keywords:
CNSastrocytesmyelinationphenotypes

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A Cell Culture Model for Studying the Role of Neuron-Glia Interactions in Ischemia

Published on: November 14, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Astrocytes are the most prevalent cells in the adult central nervous system (CNS).
  • Traditionally viewed as inhibitors of CNS repair due to gliotic scar formation, astrocytes' role in repair and remyelination is increasingly recognized.
  • The relationship between astrocyte scar formation and failed remyelination in diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) has been a key research focus.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evolving understanding of astrocyte functions in CNS repair and remyelination.
  • To explore how astrocytes support myelin development and maintenance.
  • To identify strategies for enhancing remyelination in MS and other neurological disorders by leveraging astrocyte biology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on astrocyte biology and CNS repair.
  • Analysis of the role of astrocytes in glial scar formation and its impact on remyelination.
  • Examination of the mechanisms by which astrocytes support myelin development and maintenance.

Main Results:

  • Astrocytes play a dual role: contributing to glial scar formation but also actively supporting CNS repair and remyelination.
  • The formation of astroglial scars in MS lesions is now considered a late-stage pathological response, not indicative of normal astrocyte function.
  • Astrocytes are essential for the normal development and ongoing maintenance of CNS myelin.

Conclusions:

  • The understanding of astrocyte roles in CNS repair has shifted significantly, highlighting their supportive functions in myelination.
  • New therapeutic strategies for MS and other diseases can be developed by targeting and enhancing astrocyte-mediated remyelination.
  • Further research into astrocyte-myelin interactions holds promise for regenerative medicine in the CNS.