Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Glial Cells01:04

Glial Cells

96.7K
Overview
96.7K
Neuron Structure01:30

Neuron Structure

21.4K
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...
21.4K
Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells01:31

Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells

11.5K
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...
11.5K
Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue01:15

Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue

2.1K
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...
2.1K
EPS and iPS Cells in Disease Research01:21

EPS and iPS Cells in Disease Research

3.5K
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,...
3.5K
The Blood-brain Barrier00:49

The Blood-brain Barrier

55.5K
Overview
55.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Inhibition of TGF-β signaling in microglia stimulates hippocampal adult neurogenesis and reduces anxiety-like behavior in adult mice.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Author Correction: Opportunities and challenges of single-cell and spatially resolved genomics methods for neuroscience discovery.

Nature neuroscience·2024
Same author

Opportunities and challenges of single-cell and spatially resolved genomics methods for neuroscience discovery.

Nature neuroscience·2024
Same author

Unboxing "Omics" in Glial Biology to Understand Neurological Disease.

Glia·2024
Same author

Neuroinflammatory reactive astrocyte formation correlates with adverse outcomes in perinatal white matter injury.

Glia·2024
Same author

The silence of the reactive astrocytes.

Nature neuroscience·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 4, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes
11:25

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes

Published on: January 19, 2013

95.1K

SnapShot: Astrocytes in Health and Disease.

Shane Liddelow1, Ben Barres2

  • 1Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.

Cell
|August 29, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Astrocytes, crucial central nervous system glial cells, regulate neural function and maintain the blood-brain barrier. Their functions change after injury or disease, impacting recovery outcomes.

More Related Videos

A Cell Culture Model for Studying the Role of Neuron-Glia Interactions in Ischemia
11:36

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

Published on: November 14, 2020

10.3K
Monitoring Astrocyte Reactivity and Proliferation in Vitro Under Ischemic-Like Conditions
15:08

Monitoring Astrocyte Reactivity and Proliferation in Vitro Under Ischemic-Like Conditions

Published on: October 21, 2017

10.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 4, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes
11:25

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes

Published on: January 19, 2013

95.1K
A Cell Culture Model for Studying the Role of Neuron-Glia Interactions in Ischemia
11:36

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

Published on: November 14, 2020

10.3K
Monitoring Astrocyte Reactivity and Proliferation in Vitro Under Ischemic-Like Conditions
15:08

Monitoring Astrocyte Reactivity and Proliferation in Vitro Under Ischemic-Like Conditions

Published on: October 21, 2017

10.6K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Glial Cell Research

Background:

  • Astrocytes are glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS).
  • They play vital roles in neural development and function.
  • Key functions include regulating ion/neurotransmitter levels, providing neurotrophic support, synaptic modulation, and maintaining the blood-brain barrier.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the multifaceted roles of astrocytes in the CNS.
  • To highlight the dynamic changes in astrocyte function following injury and disease.
  • To underscore the dual potential of astrocytes to either aid or impede recovery.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on astrocyte biology and pathology.
  • Analysis of studies investigating astrocyte responses to CNS injury and disease models.
  • Comparative analysis of astrocyte contributions to recovery across different neuropathological conditions.

Main Results:

  • Astrocytes are essential for maintaining CNS homeostasis and synaptic plasticity.
  • Following CNS injury or disease, astrocytes exhibit significant functional plasticity.
  • These reactive astrocytes can exert both beneficial and detrimental effects on neural repair and recovery.

Conclusions:

  • Astrocytes are key regulators of neural function and CNS integrity.
  • Understanding astrocyte reactivity is critical for developing effective therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders.
  • The context-dependent role of astrocytes in recovery necessitates tailored approaches for neurological conditions.