Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2025

Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number
Published on: November 16, 2010
Astrocyte-synapse interactions during brain development
Karen L G Farizatto1, Katherine T Baldwin2
1Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Abstract:
Bidirectional communication between astrocytes and neurons is essential for proper brain development. Astrocytes, a major glial cell type, are morphologically complex cells that directly interact with neuronal synapses to regulate synapse formation, maturation, and function. Astrocyte-secreted factors bind neuronal receptors to induce synaptogenesis with regional and circuit-level precision. Cell adhesion molecules mediate the direct contact between astrocytes and neurons, which is required for both synaptogenesis and astrocyte morphogenesis. Neuron-derived signals also shape astrocyte development, function, and molecular identity. This review highlights recent findings on the topic of astrocyte-synapse interactions, and discusses the importance of these interactions for synapse and astrocyte development.
More Related Videos
08:48Synaptic Microcircuit Modeling with 3D Cocultures of Astrocytes and Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published on: August 16, 2018
11:08The Indirect Neuron-astrocyte Coculture Assay: An In Vitro Set-up for the Detailed Investigation of Neuron-glia Interactions
Published on: November 14, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Integration of Synaptic Events
The Synapse
Neuronal Communication
Overview of Synapses
Neurotransmitters