What is astrocyte?

Astrocyte is a star -shaped cell that provides support for neurons of the central nervous system or brain and spinal cord. Astrocytes are a subtype of guillic cells or neuroglia, the nervous system support cells. They are responsible for the provision of physical support, nutrition and biochemical support, the blood -brain barrier and neurons, as well as for the repair and scarring of the brain or spinal cord after the injury. Astrocyte also helps maintain the balance of ions in the extracellular central nervous system matrix. Astrocytes have multiple processes with long cells or weapons that communicate with neurons and other important structures such as capillaries and blood -brain barrier.

astrocytes provide physical support for neurons by creating a nut that holds neurons in place. The matrix also insulates synapse, intersections through which neurons send chemical pulses together. This prevents the released chemical signals of neurons from distraction too far and neurons can, as a result, smoothly transmit signals.

Astrocytes also help maintain the central nervous system without remnants through phagocytosis. In phagocytosis, it surrounds astroquis of debris in the central nervous system and enjoys them. When the central nervous system is damaged, the astrocytes clean the damaged cells through phagocytosis and fill the empty space and create a gli -scar.

Astrocytes also provide neurons of important nutrients, especially lactate. Some astrocytes communicate with capillaries, small blood vessels from which they receive glucose. Astrocy then breaks glucose down to lactate, saves some and releases the rest into the extracellular fluid of the central nervous system. Neurons receive lactate they use for energy from extracellular fluid. When neurons have a lot of metabolic activity in a certain area, neighboring astrocytes can release their stored lactate to provide neurons with the other energy they need.

While astrocyte was once considered to be a cell of a gap that is less important than neurons; It is now assumed that it has a number of active roles in the central nervous system. For example, astrocytes are now assumed that they exclude and absorb some neurotransmitters and help in vasomodulation, nervous blood flow control, by intermediaries between neurons. Recent discoveries about astrocytes have led to increased interest in research on astrocytes in the field of neuroscience. Some contemporary research has focused on whether astrocytes can play a role in clinical depression based on the context between diabetes and depression, which are characterized by a change in glucose metabolism in the central nervous system.