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

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Quantitative and Phylogenetic Analyses of Immature Neurons in Cortical Layer II and Amygdala of Macaque Monkeys.

Cells·2026
Same author

Comparative analysis of the cellular landscape in mammalian striatum.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Homologous specialization of arcuate fasciculus ventrolateral frontal connectivity in marmosets and humans.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Morphological and anatomical variations in subcortical anatomy between humans and chimpanzees associated with heritability patterns related to human behavioral traits.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Mixed Signals and Interspecies Variation in the Plasticity of Adult Mammal Brains.

Cells·2026
Same author

Pharmacological manipulation of the immediate effects of spinal trauma in neonatal rats reveals a crucial role for TRPV4 receptors.

The Journal of physiology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 19, 2025

An Ex Vivo Explant Model for Studying Glial Interactions in the Mouse Retina
09:46

An Ex Vivo Explant Model for Studying Glial Interactions in the Mouse Retina

Published on: July 15, 2025

925

Redefining varicose projection astrocytes in primates.

Carmen Falcone1,2, Erin L McBride1,2, William D Hopkins3

  • 1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, USA.

Glia
|September 17, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Varicose projection astrocytes (VP-As) are found only in humans and apes, not in other primates. These cells, located in layer VI of the cortex, may not be a distinct type but rather astrocytes developing varicosities under specific conditions.

Keywords:
astrocytecerebral cortexhominidhumanprimatevaricose-projection

More Related Videos

Modeling Astrocytoma Pathogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo Using Cortical Astrocytes or Neural Stem Cells from Conditional, Genetically Engineered Mice
10:13

Modeling Astrocytoma Pathogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo Using Cortical Astrocytes or Neural Stem Cells from Conditional, Genetically Engineered Mice

Published on: August 12, 2014

13.6K
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

14.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 19, 2025

An Ex Vivo Explant Model for Studying Glial Interactions in the Mouse Retina
09:46

An Ex Vivo Explant Model for Studying Glial Interactions in the Mouse Retina

Published on: July 15, 2025

925
Modeling Astrocytoma Pathogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo Using Cortical Astrocytes or Neural Stem Cells from Conditional, Genetically Engineered Mice
10:13

Modeling Astrocytoma Pathogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo Using Cortical Astrocytes or Neural Stem Cells from Conditional, Genetically Engineered Mice

Published on: August 12, 2014

13.6K
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

14.5K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Primate Comparative Anatomy
  • Astrocyte Biology

Background:

  • Varicose projection astrocytes (VP-As) have been reported in the human and chimpanzee cerebral cortex.
  • Their phylogenetic distribution across primate species remains largely unexamined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary distribution of VP-As across a wide range of primate species.
  • To determine if VP-As represent a distinct astrocyte subtype or a reactive state.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of cortical tissue from strepsirrhines, tarsiers, platyrrhines, cercopithecoids, hylobatids, and great apes.
  • Histological examination focusing on astrocyte morphology and localization within cortical layers.

Main Results:

  • VP-As were exclusively identified in humans and other hominoids (apes).
  • These astrocytes were consistently found in layer VI and the superficial white matter.
  • The presence of VP-As coincided with interlaminar astrocytes exhibiting process varicosities.

Conclusions:

  • VP-As are not unique to humans and chimpanzees but are present in all hominoids.
  • Their localization and association with reactive astrocytes suggest they are not a distinct cell type.
  • VP-As likely represent astrocytes that develop varicosities under specific physiological or environmental conditions.