Question

Describe some of the methods/techniques used to identify astrocytes versus other cell types. Explain why cell culture is a robust tool for studying astrocyte biology.

Answer 1

ASTROCYTES

• These are small star shaped cells that give off a number of processes
• The processes are often flattened into leaf- like laminae that may partly surrounded neurons and separate them from other neurons
• Small swelling called gliosomes are present on the processes of astrocytes
• These swellings are rich in mitochondria .
• Are the largest and most numerous in grey matter

TYPES

1) Fibrous astrocytes :mainly present in white matter

2) Protoplasmic astrocytes : mainly seen in grey matter

3) Intermediate astrocytes : between fibrous and protoplasmic

Astocytes are classically identified using histological analysis;

• Many of these cells express theintermediate filament 'glial fibrillary acidic protein'
• Fibrous form exhibit long unbranched cellular processes and often has "vascular feet" that physically connect the cells to the outside
• Protoplasmic form exhibit short and highly branched teritary processes.

USE OF PRIMARY ASTROCYTES CULTURE

• The possibilities for studying astrocytes in a physiological setting have faced issue of resolution,distinction between cell types accounting for the observed effects and lack of sufficiently sophisticated in vivo technique
• Such issue have been overcome by the use of primary astrocytes culture

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