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Glial Cells

Glial Cells

Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 14, 2026

One Mouse, Two Cultures: Isolation and Culture of Adult Neural Stem Cells from the Two Neurogenic Zones of Individual Mice

One Mouse, Two Cultures: Isolation and Culture of Adult Neural Stem Cells from the Two Neurogenic Zones of Individual Mice

Published on: February 25, 2014

NG2-glia, More Than Progenitor Cells.

Jaime Eugenín-von Bernhardi^1,2, Leda Dimou³

¹Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Großhaderner Str. 9, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany. Jaime.Eugenin@med.uni-muenchen.de.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

|October 8, 2016

Summary

NG2-glia, crucial for the central nervous system (CNS), are more than just oligodendrocyte progenitors. These versatile cells also contribute to brain plasticity and repair after injury.

Keywords:

Differentiation Disease Injury Myelination NG2-glia NG2-glia neuronal synapse Neuronal activity Oligodendrocytes Plasticity Proliferation

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Last Updated: Mar 14, 2026

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Published on: February 25, 2014

Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells into Oligodendrocyte Precursors

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Derivation of Glial Restricted Precursors from E13 mice

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Glial Cell Biology
Central Nervous System (CNS) Research

Background:

NG2-glia are a widespread glial cell population in the CNS with a complex morphology.
Initially considered solely as oligodendrocyte progenitors for myelination, their role is now understood to be more multifaceted.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the diverse roles of NG2-glia beyond oligodendrocyte generation.
To investigate their distribution, differentiation potential, and functions in normal and pathological CNS conditions.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on NG2-glia characteristics and functions.
Analysis of studies detailing NG2-glia distribution, differentiation, synaptic activity, and behavior in disease models.

Main Results:

NG2-glia exhibit homogeneous distribution throughout the CNS and can differentiate into various cell types.
These cells actively maintain their population, display dynamic behavior, form synapses with neurons, and show plasticity.
NG2-glia play roles in myelin maintenance, brain plasticity, and CNS repair following injury.

Conclusions:

NG2-glia are not merely progenitor cells but play significant roles in CNS homeostasis, plasticity, and repair.
Their dynamic nature and interactions suggest a broader involvement in overall brain function and recovery.