Abstract
Publisher Summary Astrocytes are stellate-shaped cells that form a major population of glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytes were once thought mostly to function passively as structural support elements for neurons, but many dynamic properties have since been attributed to astrocytes that include the maintenance of ionic homeostasis, metabolism of neurotransmitters, guidance of neuronal migration during development, and production of growth factors. Following many types of injury to the adult CNS, a characteristic reaction of astrocytes occurs in a phenomenon referred to as reactive astrogliosis. Through hypertrophy and hyperplasia, reactive astrocytes become larger, extend thicker, longer processes, and significantly increase their cytoplasmic content of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an astrocyte-specific intermediate filament.
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