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

Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells01:31

Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells

6.4K
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...
6.4K
Glial Cells01:04

Glial Cells

92.9K
Overview
92.9K
Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue01:15

Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue

1.5K
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...
1.5K
Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

44.9K
Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the...
44.9K
Nervous Tissue: Myelin01:25

Nervous Tissue: Myelin

5.2K
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...
5.2K
Nervous Tissue: Neuron Types01:19

Nervous Tissue: Neuron Types

5.7K
Neurons, the fundamental units of the nervous system, can be classified based on both their structural and functional characteristics.
Structurally, neurons are categorized into three main types: multipolar, bipolar, and unipolar (or pseudounipolar). Multipolar neurons, which are the most common type in the brain and spinal cord, as well as all motor neurons, possess multiple dendrites and a single axon.
Bipolar neurons, on the other hand, have one primary dendrite and one axon. They are...
5.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Editorial: Immune functions of neuroglia.

Frontiers in immunology·2026
Same author

Aberrant Potassium Handling by Astrocytes and Epileptic Seizures: A Synthetic Update.

Acta physiologica (Oxford, England)·2026
Same author

Mitochondria transfer in neurological disorders: the key role of neuroglia.

Molecular neurodegeneration·2026
Same author

Astrocytes as Histaminergic Gatekeepers of Anxiety: A New Pathway for Emotional Control.

Journal of neurochemistry·2026
Same author

Congratulations, JNC Turns 70!

Journal of neurochemistry·2026
Same author

Author Correction: Curing the brain: in search for new astrocyte-specific therapies.

Experimental & molecular medicine·2026
Same journal

Mammalian Respiratory Chain Complex Assemblies and Their Links to Mitochondria Stress-Induced Human Diseases.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Enzyme Assemblies in Nucleotide Metabolism: Structure, Regulation, and Disease Implications.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

The Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex: A 90-Year-Old Enigma Shaping the Future of Structural Enzymology.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Regulation of the Anti-termination RNA Transcription Complex by Lon-Mediated Lambda N Degradation.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

PCNA Macromolecular Complexes: PCNA Serves as a Molecular Hub Regulating Multiple Cellular Processes Inside and Outside of the Nucleus.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Dynamic Assemblies in Genome Maintenance.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 6, 2026

Dissection and Isolation of Murine Glia from Multiple Central Nervous System Regions
08:00

Dissection and Isolation of Murine Glia from Multiple Central Nervous System Regions

Published on: June 4, 2020

3.8K

Evolution of Neuroglia.

Alexei Verkhratsky1,2,3, Margaret S Ho4, Vladimir Parpura5,6

  • 1Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK. Alexej.Verkhratsky@manchester.ac.uk.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|October 5, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Neuroglia, or supportive nerve cells, evolved alongside neurons, diversifying significantly throughout animal phylogeny. These cells developed specialized functions, including brain barriers and immune defense, with increasing complexity in larger brains.

Keywords:
AstrocytesBlood/haemolymph-brain barrierBrain sizeComplexity of gliaGlia to neuron ratioMicrogliaMyelinationOligodendrocytesRadial glia

More Related Videos

Three-dimensional Tissue Engineered Aligned Astrocyte Networks to Recapitulate Developmental Mechanisms and Facilitate Nervous System Regeneration
08:52

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

Published on: January 10, 2018

14.8K
Application of MultiColor FlpOut Technique to Study High Resolution Single Cell Morphologies and Cell Interactions of Glia in Drosophila
08:30

Application of MultiColor FlpOut Technique to Study High Resolution Single Cell Morphologies and Cell Interactions of Glia in Drosophila

Published on: October 20, 2017

8.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 6, 2026

Dissection and Isolation of Murine Glia from Multiple Central Nervous System Regions
08:00

Dissection and Isolation of Murine Glia from Multiple Central Nervous System Regions

Published on: June 4, 2020

3.8K
Three-dimensional Tissue Engineered Aligned Astrocyte Networks to Recapitulate Developmental Mechanisms and Facilitate Nervous System Regeneration
08:52

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

Published on: January 10, 2018

14.8K
Application of MultiColor FlpOut Technique to Study High Resolution Single Cell Morphologies and Cell Interactions of Glia in Drosophila
08:30

Application of MultiColor FlpOut Technique to Study High Resolution Single Cell Morphologies and Cell Interactions of Glia in Drosophila

Published on: October 20, 2017

8.6K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The evolution of the nervous system involved the emergence of neuroglia alongside neurons.
  • Neuroglia, non-neuronal supportive cells, exhibit remarkable diversity across the animal kingdom.
  • Understanding glial cell evolution provides insights into nervous system complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To trace the evolutionary history and diversification of neuroglia.
  • To identify key innovations in glial cell function throughout phylogeny.
  • To compare glial cell evolution across different animal taxa.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative phylogenetic analysis of glial cell origins and functions.
  • Review of existing literature on neuroglia in diverse species.
  • Tracing the appearance of specific glial cell types and structures.

Main Results:

  • Ancestral neuroglia originated from mesenchymal cells in flatworms.
  • Specialized glial cells, including those forming brain barriers and microglia, evolved independently in various lineages.
  • Myelination evolved convergently in vertebrates, and the glia-to-neuron ratio increased with brain size.

Conclusions:

  • Neuroglia represent a highly diverse cell family with a complex evolutionary trajectory.
  • Glial cell innovations, such as blood-brain barriers and immune specialization, were crucial for nervous system advancement.
  • Unique glial cell types in humans highlight ongoing evolutionary divergence.